Cardiff Blues lock Bradley Davies has been ruled out of the tour to South Africa next month due to a hamstring injury, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) said Thursday.

Davies, who will join Wasps this summer, joins a long list of Wales players set to miss out on the trip to the two-time world champions as captain Sam Warburton, fellow flanker Justin Tipuric, fullback and kicker Leigh Halfpenny and centre Scott Williams are also absent.

Hooker Richard Hibbard, scrum-half Rhys Webb and fly-half Rhys Priestland have also been ruled out while flanker Dan Lydiate is a doubt with a hamstring problem.

“Bradley Davies underwent surgery yesterday for a damaged hamstring, ruling him out of contention of Wales’ tour of South Africa,” the WRU said in a statement.

Wales coach Warren Gatland is set to name a 31-man tour squad following a practice match between Welsh ‘probables’ and ‘possibles’ on Friday night.

The Welsh face the Springboks in Durban on June 14, and then Nelspruit seven days later with Ospreys lock Alun-Wyn Jones set to captain the side.