By David Williams
Uncapped Saracens prop Sam Wainwright has been called into Wales’ South Africa tour squad as replacement for Leon Brown.
The Welsh Rugby Union said that Brown had failed to recover from a nerve issue suffered on club duty.
🏴 WALES | Our best wishes to 🐉 prop Leon Brown who has withdrawn from the @WelshRugbyUnion squad for the summer tour to South Africa due to injury!
We all wish you a speedy recovery Leon! 👍#BringYourFire🔥 pic.twitter.com/KiuD8v6ajE
— Dragons RFC 🐉 (@dragonsrfc) June 7, 2022
And his place in Wayne Pivac’s 33-man squad has gone to 24-year-old Wainwright.
Wainwright, who was born in North Wales, will link up with the squad after the Gallagher Premiership season finishes.
POB LWC | GOOD LUCK SAM! ❤️💚
All at Clwb Rygbi Abergele would like to extend their congratulations and well wishes to @RhylRugbyClub , @RGCNews and @Saracens product Sam Wynn Wainwright on his recent call up to the The Welsh Rugby Union Summer Tour Squad!
Go well, Sam! pic.twitter.com/BQpRmJLG6z
— Clwb Rygbi Abergele (@clwb_rygbi_gele) June 7, 2022
Saracens face a Premiership play-off clash against reigning league champions Harlequins on Saturday.
And if they topple Quins, a Twickenham final appointment with Leicester or Northampton awaits on June 18.
Throwback to 2017 when Sam Wainwright picked up the RGC Most Improved Player Award…..been some 5 years since @WelshRugbyUnion pic.twitter.com/V3nq6svJxQ
— RGCnews🏉 (@RGCNews) June 7, 2022
Wainwright, a Wales Under-20 international, has played 18 games for Saracens, having joined them in 2019.
Wales ended this season’s Guinness Six Nations Championship with a home defeat against Italy, and they face the world champion Springboks in three Tests.
• Summer Tour 2022 •
Here's your squad for the upcoming South Africa Test Series captained by Dan Biggar.
FULL STORY 🔽
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) May 18, 2022
The first game is in Pretoria on July 2, followed by Bloemfontein seven days later, and then Cape Town on July 16.