Wales names 39-man squad for Nations Championship
Head coach Steve Tandy names three uncapped players, led by Aneurin Owen and Che Hope, in Wales' 39-strong squad for November Tests.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Steve Tandy selects a 39-strong Wales squad for the upcoming November Test matches.
- Dewi Lake is named captain, featuring three uncapped players: Aneurin Owen, Che Hope, and Rhys Barratt.
- Leicester's Tommy Reffell and fit-again Taulupe Faletau miss out on selection.
- Wales are scheduled to face Japan, New Zealand, and Australia in Cardiff.
Wales head coach Steve Tandy has named a 39-strong squad for the upcoming Nations Championship fixtures in November, handing call-ups to three uncapped players as the national side prepares to face top-tier international opponents.
The uncapped players earning their first senior international call-ups include Dragons centre Aneurin Owen and scrum-half Che Hope, both of whom have delivered impressive performances at club level during the opening stages of the 2026-27 season. They are joined by Cardiff loose-head prop Rhys Barratt, who previously featured in the summer fixture against the Barbarians.
The squad selection also welcomes back several established names and returning players, including Dragons lock Seb Davies and Cardiff number eight Taine Basham, both earning their first selections since Tandy took charge of the national team. Dragons wing Rio Dyer and Leicester's Gabriel Hamer-Webb also return to the fold.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
However, notable absentees include Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell and fit-again number eight Taulupe Faletau, who recently made his first appearance of the season for Cardiff against Northampton on Sunday, with the selectors opting for other options amid strong competition in the back-row department.
"It's great to welcome back the players who were unavailable for the first three rounds of the Nations Championship."
Steve Tandy
Wales are set to face Japan, New Zealand, and Australia in Cardiff before concluding their campaign against a southern hemisphere opponent on finals weekend at Twickenham. The squad features 14 players from clubs based in England alongside Montpellier lock Adam Beard.
Steve Tandy's squad selection highlights a strategic blend of returning veterans and in-form club youngsters designed to tackle depth issues and add tactical flexibility. Facing formidable southern hemisphere opposition in November will serve as a crucial benchmark for the squad's development moving forward.
Source: BBC Sport
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