FOUR Dragons forwards have earned selection for Wales’ summer tour to South Africa but there was disappointment for a trio of hopefuls.

Wayne Pivac has picked tighthead Leon Brown, locks Will Rowlands and Ben Carter and back rower Taine Basham in his 33-strong squad to face the Springboks in July.

Rowlands, arguably Wales' player of the season, Carter and Brown are all currently recovering from shoulder problems.

Ross Moriarty and Aaron Wainwright miss out with knee and heel injuries respectively while hookers Elliot Dee and Dragons-bound Bradley Roberts are not selected.

Dragons boss Dean Ryan had touted in-form back rowers Harri Keddie and Ollie Griffiths plus strong-running centre Jack Dixon for call-ups but they miss out for the three-Test tour.

Uncapped Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell gets the nod along with Cardiff number eight James Ratti.

Bridgend-born Reffell, a former Wales Under-20s captain, is rewarded for a succession of outstanding displays during Tigers’ Gallagher Premiership title push this term.

Elsewhere, Ospreys back George North is recalled 14 months after his last Test match appearance because of a serious knee injury, with 150 times-capped lock Alun Wyn Jones also chosen, but experienced Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies and Bristol fly-half Callum Sheedy have been left out.

Dee misses out after a season disrupted by injury with the 28-year-old limited to 12 Dragons appearances and solitary Test outing off the bench against Australia in the autumn, his 41st cap.

Pivac has gone with Ryan Elias, Dewi Lake and Sam Parry as his options with Ulster forward Roberts also missing out.

Scrum-half Rhodri Williams was called up to provide injury cover for the Six Nations finale against Italy but Gareth Davies, Kieran Hardy and Tomos Williams are the 9s.

Dixon has had a strong campaign despite the Dragons’ struggles but George North, Owen Watkin, Johnny Williams and Josh Adams are the midfield options.

Keddie and Griffiths are victims of the back row strength with Reffell and Ratti joining Basham and Lions Taulupe Faletau, Josh Navidi and Dan Lydiate.

Forwards (19)
Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 16 caps)
Wyn Jones (Scarlets – 43 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 10 caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 27 caps)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 5 caps)
Sam Parry (Ospreys – 5 caps)
Leon Brown (Dragons – 22 caps)
Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 64 caps)
Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 38 caps)
Adam Beard (Ospreys – 34 caps)
Ben Carter (Dragons – 6 caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 150 caps)
Will Rowlands (Dragons – 18 caps)
Taine Basham (Dragons – 10 caps)
Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby – 89 caps)
Dan Lydiate (Ospreys – 65 caps)
Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby – 30 caps)
James Ratti (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – uncapped)

Backs (14)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 67 caps)
Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 11 caps)
Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 33 caps)
Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys – 31 caps)
Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints – 100 caps) Captain
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets – 21 caps)
George North (Ospreys – 102 caps)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 20 caps)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 31 caps)
Johnny Williams (Scarlets – 5 caps
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 39 caps)
Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 51 caps)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 16 caps)
Liam Williams (Scarlets – 78 caps)