Wales, who meet the Boks next month at the Rugby World Cup, have chosen a 22-year-old to lead the team in the tournament.

Sam Warburton, a flanker for the Cardiff Blues, was named yesterday by coach Warren Gatland. He succeeds hooker Matthew Rees, 30, the British Lions player who was forced to withdraw following surgery to a neck injury.

The new skipper is one of four young players included in the team. The youngest is Scarlets wing George North, 19. Gatland has also selected two 20-year-olds in Scarlets centre Scott Williams and Newport Gwent Dragons No8 Toby Faletau.

The Welsh squad contains one uncapped player: Scarlets hooker Ken Owens, who received a late call-up to replace another injured hooker, Richard Hibbard. Hibbard hurt an ankle during Saturday's World Cup warm-up victory over Argentina in his comeback match after shoulder surgery.

As expected, there are few surprises in the squad, though Cardiff Blues flanker Martyn Williams, who won his 99th cap on Saturday, was denied the chance to play in a fourth World Cup and reach a century.

Gatland has opted for a split of 16 forwards and 14 backs, with Sale Sharks' Andy Powell gaining one of the back row slots, while scrumhalf prospects Tavis Knoyle and Lloyd Williams also gain opportunities.

Rees, Hibbard, centre Gavin Henson, and wing Morgan Stoddart were all unavailable for selection because of injuries, but prop Gethin Jenkins makes the cut despite ongoing concerns about a calf muscle problem which has sidelined him since January.

Other players overlooked by Gatland include scrumhalf Dwayne Peel, who captained Wales in their first game of the 2007 World Cup, and back row forwards Josh Turnbull, Jonathan Thomas, Gareth Delve and Justin Tipuric.

South Africa and Wales are in Pool D of the World Cup, along with Namibia, Samoa and Fiji. They will meet in Wellington on September 11.

• Scotland omitted No8 John Beattie from the 30-man World Cup team announced yesterday by coach Andy Robinson.

Beattie has been out of form since returning from injury and Richie Vernon is likely to take his place in the back row alongside Kelly Brown and John Barclay.

TEAMS

Wales: Backs - Aled Brew, Lee Byrne, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, James Hook, Stephen Jones, Tavis Knoyle, George North, Mike Phillips, Rhys Priestland, Jamie Roberts, Lloyd Williams, Scott Williams, Shane Williams. Forwards - Sam Warburton (captain), Huw Bennett, Ryan Bevington, Lloyd Burns, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Toby Faletau, Paul James, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Dan Lydiate, Craig Mitchell, Ken Owens, Andy Powell.

Scotland: Backs - Joe Ansbro, Mike Blair, Chris Cusiter, Simon Danielli, Nick De Luca, Max Evans, Ruaridh Jackson, Rory Lamont, Sean Lamont, Rory Lawson, Graeme Morrison, Dan Parks, Chris Paterson. Forwards - John Barclay, Kelly Brown, Geoff Cross, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, Richie Gray, Dougie Hall, Jim Hamilton, Nathan Hines, Allan Jacobsen, Alastair Kellock (captain), Scott Lawson, Moray Low, Euan Murray, Ross Rennie, Alasdair Strokosch, Richie Vernon.