NEWPORT Gwent Dragons back rower Ollie Griffiths has been tipped to fill the boots of Ross Moriarty by providing dynamism with ball in hand for Wales this summer.

Robin McBryde, head coach while Warren Gatland and Rob Howley are on Lions duty, has named the 22-year-old from Newbridge in his 32-strong squad for the June Tests against Tonga and Samoa.

Uncapped Griffiths has a preference for openside flanker but has spent much of the second half of the season at blindside flanker and played against Edinburgh and Cardiff Blues with 8 on his back.

With Taulupe Faletau and Ross Moriarty away with the Lions, McBryde believes Griffiths can provide his side with attacking energy and power against the South Sea Islanders.

“We asked the Dragons to play him at number eight in the last couple of games, which they did, and he is quite a dynamic ball-carrying threat off the base of the scrum,” said the former hooker, who has also selected back row forwards Ellis Jenkins, James King, Josh Navidi and Thomas Young.

“They have swapped him with Lewis Evans at 6 and 8 and I see him as very similar to Ross Moriarty with his ball-carrying ability. He is just a very exciting prospect and I am looking forward to working with him.”

Griffiths has been given a first call-up but centre Tyler Morgan is back in the fray after being left out of the Six Nations squad.

The 21-year-old from Caerleon won the last of his three caps against South Africa in the 2015 World Cup quarter-final at Twickenham and played in the loss to the Chiefs on the tour of New Zealand last summer.

The dual-contracted prospect has enjoyed a solid campaign at Rodney Parade, making 24 appearances, and McBryde wants him to push Scott Williams and Cory Allen for the 13 jersey in the absence of Jonathan Davies.

“You want consistency from Tyler, he has got the ability without a doubt. He has performed for us in the past and performed very well,” said McBryde.

“You only have to go back to the last World Cup to see his performances when we were very happy with him. This gives him the opportunity to stake a further claim to be involved when everybody is back in the fold.”

Dragons lock Cory Hill has also been selected after featuring for Wales in the autumn and Six Nations.

Former Rodney Parade favourite Luke Charteris is injured and Bradley Davies is absent for personal reasons, meaning McBryde’s second row options are Jake Ball and the uncapped trio of Adam Beard Rory Thornton and Seb Davies.