Seven Scarlets have been named in a 33-strong Wales squad for the July window of the inaugural Nations Championship.
Hooker Ryan Elias, back-rower Taine Plumtree, fly-half Sam Costelow, centres Eddie James and Joe Hawkins, wing Ellis Mee and full-back Blair Murray have been selected by head coach Steve Tandy as Wales prepare to head into their three-Test summer.
It all begins with an ‘away’ fixture against Fiji at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday (14:10). Tickets are available via Cardiff City Stadium Events and Ticketmaster.
This is followed by matches against Argentina in San Juan and South Africa in Durban in a new format competition that runs across the summer and autumn international Test match periods. All matches will be broadcast live on ITV and S4C.
Dewi Lake captains the 882-cap squad for the campaign. There are two uncapped players among the 19 forwards and 14 backs – Ospreys tight-head prop Ben Warren and Exeter Chiefs back-rower Kane James. Dafydd Jenkins is unavailable this summer due to a shoulder injury sustained during the Gallagher PREM Final that requires surgery.
Tandy said: “We have selected a squad of 33 players for the Nations Championship to mirror what will be required for the world cup in 2027. We are building a lot of competition among our group of players, which is what we want to have, and there were some tough calls to make.
“We have an exciting opportunity over the next three weeks in a brand-new competition and can’t wait to get our campaign started against Fiji on Saturday.
“As I’ve mentioned before, the priorities for us this summer are to keep growing and developing the players. We want to continue building and to be more consistent in our performances across all three games.”
The Nations Championship continues in November with Wales hosting Japan, New Zealand and Australia at Principality Stadium during rounds four to six which take place over three consecutive Saturdays. Tickets for Wales’ three home matches are available now.
The new competition culminates in a Finals Weekend with six matches taking place over three days at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham where all 12 teams will compete for their final placing in the Nations Championship, as well as to earn points for their group to decide whether north or south triumphs in the sport this year.
Wales squad for the Nations Championship July window
(Competition rounds one to three)
Forwards (19)
Adam Beard (Montpellier – 65 caps), James Botham (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 21 caps), Rhys Carre (Saracens / Saraseniaid – 28 caps), Ben Carter (Dragons / Dreigiau – 19 caps), Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 48 caps), Kane James (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – uncapped / heb gap), Dewi Lake (Ospreys / Gweilch – 31 caps), Dillon Lewis (Dragons / Dreigiau – 57 caps), Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 8 caps), Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 16 caps), Jac Morgan (Ospreys / Gweilch – 24 caps), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 14 caps), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 29 caps), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 63 caps), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys / Gweilch – 44 caps), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons / Dreigiau – 67 caps), Sam Wainwright (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 4 caps), Ben Warren (Ospreys / Gweilch – uncapped / heb gap), Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 8 caps)
Backs (14)
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 70 caps), Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 20 caps), Dan Edwards (Ospreys / Gweilch – 11 caps), Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 17 caps), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys / Gweilch – 31 caps), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets – 11 caps), Eddie James (Scarlets – 9 caps), Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – 11 caps), Ellis Mee (Scarlets – 8 caps), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys / Gweilch – 2 caps), Blair Murray (Scarlets – 16 caps), Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears / Bryste – 40 caps), Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 18 caps), Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – 72 caps).