HEFTY prop Tomas Francis has pledged to graft hard as he attempts to secure one of the three tighthead berths in Wales' World Cup squad.

The uncapped 23-year-old Exeter front row forward was named by Warren Gatland in his 47-strong training squad for England 2015 on Monday.

York-born Francis, whose grandmother is from Abercrave, had an excellent season for the Chiefs and was named in the BT Sport Aviva Premiership dream team.

Wales stole a march on England by inviting him to train with them during the Six Nations and are likely to cap him against Ireland in August to secure his services.

But 21st 2lb Francis – a strong scrummager but a hefty lump who needs to improve in the loose for Test rugby – knows he has a battle to make the final 31.

He is joined in the training squad by fellow tightheads Aaron Jarvis, Rhodri Jones and first-choice Samson Lee, who is making good progress in his return from an Achilles injury.

"It's going to take a lot of hard work to get into the squad, and I know that, so I'll get my head down. I've got to use it as a positive," Francis told the Exeter Express and Echo.

"Even if I go through the disappointment of not making it, hopefully it'll make me stronger for Exeter next season – it's a win-win either way.

"I really enjoyed my week training there (during the Six Nations) and now I've got the chance to train with them some more. Hopefully they can keep making me better and improving me."

Last summer Francis headed to Exeter from Championship side London Scottish and even he is shocked at the speed of his rise.

"I never thought it would go as well as it did," he said. "When I started my season at Scottish two years ago I was third-choice and didn't get a game until October/November time.

"If someone had said two years ago that I would be in the position I am now I would have laughed at them.

"I came to Exeter, was third-choice when I signed and knew it was going to be hard to even get one Premiership game, so I've surpassed all my expectations and all my goals."