MORGAN Knowles is one of the players who has been named in Wales' 38-man train-on squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

The St Helens forward, who was with Barrow Island as a junior, has been featuring regularly in Super League this year and has caught the eye of Welsh national team coach John Kear.

Knowles will be aiming to earn a place in the final squad for the tournament in the Southern Hemisphere, along with adding to his sole cap for the Dragons so far.

And Kear insists there are still plenty of opportunities for players to earn a World Cup spot, saying: “I’m delighted – everybody is pretty excited about the World Cup.

“The train-on squad is a mixture of those who have achieved with us and newcomers who have come to our attention. We want to be able to pick the best squad for the World Cup.

“As this is a train-on squad, it doesn’t exclude other players from joining the squad at a later date.”

Wales are determined to improve on their showing at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup in England, where they failed to progress from their group after losing all three matches.

They have been drawn against co-hosts Papua New Guinea, who they face first up on October 28, and Ireland in Pool C, along with facing Pool D side Fiji in an inter-pool match.

“From speaking to the players, I know that they were disappointed with the 2013 World Cup and they see this tournament as a way of rectifying that,” said Kear. “At this World Cup, they can set the standard.

“As a group, they really enjoy each other’s company and they will be confident. It will be a trip to savour for the players, the support staff and everybody involved.

“With going to places like Papua New Guinea, Townsville and Perth, it’s going to be a real adventure. It will be one that we can enjoy, but we will also have to work hard.”

Wales 38-man train-on squad: Larne Patrick (Castleford Tigers), Zak Williams (Coventry Bears), Courtney Davies, Steve Parry, Lewis Reece (all Gloucestershire All Golds), Danny Ansell (Hunslet), Sam Hopkins (Leigh Centurions), Michael Channing, Ben Evans, Dalton Grant, Elliot Kear, Rhys Williams (all London Broncos), Josh Ralph (Newcastle Knights), Matty Barron (Newcastle Thunder), Joe Burke (Oldham), Caleb Aekins, Daniel Brown (both Penrith Panthers), Ant Walker (Rochdale Hornets), Craig Kopczak (Salford Red Devils), Matty Fozard (Sheffield Eagles), Morgan Evans, Connor Farrer, Andrew Gay, Christiaan Roets (all South Wales Ironmen), Regan Grace, Elliot Jenkins, Morgan Knowles, Ben Morris, Calvin Wellington (all St Helens), Rhodri Lloyd (Swinton Lions), Jake Emmitt, Dan Fleming (both Toronto Wolfpack), Rhys Evans (Warrington Wolves), Ollie Olds (West Brisbane Panthers), Gil Dudson, Lloyd White (both Widnes Vikings), Ben Flower (Wigan Warriors), Phil Joseph (Workington Town).