Scarlets fly-half Rhys Patchell, full-back Leigh Halfpenny and hooker Ken Owens are among 11 players from the 2018 Heineken Champions Cup semi-finalists in Wales’ Rugby World Cup squad. Head coach Warren Gatland has opted for 26-year-old Patchell – instrumental in Scarlets’ success in that European campaign – ahead of Cardiff Blues fly-half Jarrod Evans, who started in Wales’ warm-up defeat to Ireland last weekend. Halfpenny and Owens bring vital experience to the Wales squad, while the likes of lock Jake Ball, scrum-half Gareth Davies and centre Jonathan Davies also feature from the Challenge Cup team. The Welsh region return to that competition in 2019/20 and will face Bayonne, London Irish and three-time European Cup winners RC Toulon in a tricky Pool 2. Cardiff have five players in Wales’ 31-man squad, including new wing Josh Adams and flanker Josh Navidi, while fellow Challenge Cup team Dragons boast a quartet on the plane to Japan, with flanker Ross Moriarty and hooker Elliot Dee among those making the cut. [jwplayer v0NcZ5uS] Heineken Champions Cup outfit Ospreys will be represented by seven players, including captain and lock Alun Wyn Jones, back-row forward Justin Tipuric and wing George North. The Welsh region face a daunting task on their return to Europe’s elite club competition this season, having been drawn in Pool 4 alongside Munster Rugby, Racing 92 and defending champions Saracens. You can view fixtures from the Heineken Champions Cup HERE and the Challenge Cup HERE.