Wales squad: Louis Rees-Zammit returns as Steve Tandy includes five uncapped players, while PRB deems forward ‘eligible’
Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit and an inset of Wales head coach Steve Tandy.
New head coach Steve Tandy has named his first Wales squad ahead of the 2025 Autumn Nations Series with matches against Argentina, Japan, the All Blacks and Springboks.
Tandy has called up 39 players to his squad, which will be captained by British and Irish Lions flanker Jac Morgan.
The inexperienced squad features just 744 caps and includes Morgan’s Lions teammate Tomos Williams.
Recalls
Second-rowers Adam Beard and Dafydd Jenkins return, having missed Wales‘ two-Test series in Japan due to being given a break and elective surgery, respectively, while Tandy has selected five uncapped players: Dragons RFC hooker Brodie Coghlan; Ospreys second-row James Fender and back-row Morgan Morse; Cardiff Rugby prop Danny Southworth and Bath Rugby centre Louie Hennessey.
Jacob Beetham, Rhys Davies, Rio Dyer, Jarrod Evans, Joe Hawkins, Max Llewellyn, Louis Rees-Zammit, Callum Sheedy and Nick Tompkins have also been called up while Rhys Carre has been included following confirmation by the Professional Rugby Board that he is eligible for Wales selection.
“It’s been really exciting going through the whole process and realising how many good players we’ve got,” Tandy said.
“We’ve got to the decision of the selection, which we are really happy with.
“There’s a really good mix of some young guys coming in, mixed with some experience as well. But the overall feeling is really exciting and I can’t wait to get the boys into camp on Monday.
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“When we come in Monday, obviously there’s new coaches, it’s a new time and there are some new faces in and around the playing group as well. So first and foremost, it’s about getting us connected and getting us nice and tight in around what we want to be through this Quilter Nations Series, getting clarity on our identity and our game model.”
On the decision to name Morgan as captain, Tandy added: “Jac was captain for the Six Nations and then Dewi [Lake] did a brilliant job on the summer tour when Jac was with the Lions.
“I think we’ve got a couple of really good young leaders coming through, but I feel Jac he’s just an amazing player, an amazing human being and I feel he’s going to go from strength to strength as a captain for our nation and also been underpinned by some young leaders like Dewi and Daf Jenkins.”
Wales squad for the Autumn Nations Series
Forwards: Keiron Assiratti, Adam Beard, Liam Belcher, Rhys Carre, Ben Carter, Brodie Coghlan, Christian Coleman, Rhys Davies, Taulupe Faletau, James Fender, Archie Griffin, Dafydd Jenkins, Dewi Lake, Alex Mann, Jac Morgan, Morgan Morse, Taine Plumtree, Nicky Smith, Danny Southworth, Gareth Thomas, Freddie Thomas, Aaron Wainwright
Backs: Josh Adams, Jacob Beetham, Rio Dyer, Dan Edwards, Jarrod Evans, Kieran Hardy, Joe Hawkins, Louie Hennessey, Max Llewellyn, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Blair Murray, Louis Rees-Zammit, Tom Rogers, Callum Sheedy, Ben Thomas, Nick Tompkins, Tomos Williams
Fixtures
Sunday 9 November: Wales v Argentina KO 3.10pm
Saturday 15 November: Wales v Japan KO 5.40pm
Saturday 22 November: Wales v New Zealand 3.10pm
Saturday 29 November: Wales v South Africa 3.10pm