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Wales unveil extended squad for summer internationals
Wales head coach Steve Tandy has selected a 48-player squad for the upcoming summer tour, including uncapped players Kane James of Exeter and Bryn Bradley from Harlequins. The squad will prepare for four matches, beginning with a warm-up against the Barbarians at Twickenham on 27 June.
Key inclusions and absences
James, a former England Under-20 World Cup winner, qualifies for Wales through his Pembrokeshire birthplace. The 21-year-old back rower has been a regular for Exeter this season but missed months due to an ankle injury sustained in January. Tandy praised James' versatility and athleticism, noting his ability to play across the back row.
Bradley, a 23-year-old centre, qualifies through his Newport-born mother. The Harlequins player has previously represented Wales at Under-20 level and was part of a strong partnership with Louis Hennessey, who also features in the senior squad.
Other uncapped players include Dragons back-row duo Ryan Woodman and Harrison Keddie, Cardiff prop Rhys Barratt, and Ospreys tight-head Ben Warren. Woodman, 22, was called up during the Six Nations, while Keddie, 29, has impressed for the Dragons this season.
Injured players Jac Morgan, Teddy Williams, and Max Llewellyn return after missing the Six Nations. However, tight-head props Tomas Francis and Archie Griffin will miss the tour-Francis has been rested ahead of his move to Sale, while Griffin requires surgery.
Squad composition and logistics
The squad features 33 Wales-based players, with Cardiff contributing the most (12), followed by Scarlets (9), Ospreys (7), and Dragons (5). The 15 players based outside Wales will be unavailable for the Barbarians match, which falls outside World Rugby's international window.
Players will join the squad in stages, depending on their club commitments. The first group arrives on 1 June, while others may not report until 27 June. Tandy explained the staggered approach:
"Some players will finish next weekend, and some might not come into the squad until 27 June. There's a lot of staggering, which is why we've named an extended squad."
Steve Tandy, Wales head coach
An updated squad will be announced after the Barbarians game before the Nations Championship begins.
Summer fixtures and venues
Wales will face the Barbarians at Twickenham on 27 June (14:00 BST), followed by three Nations Championship matches. The tour includes away games against Fiji (4 July at Cardiff City Stadium), Argentina (11 July in San Juan), and South Africa (18 July in Durban). The Principality Stadium is unavailable due to other events, including a Metallica concert on 28 June.
The Nations Championship continues in November, with Wales hosting Japan, New Zealand, and Australia at the Principality Stadium.
Full squad breakdown
Forwards (27)
- Props: Rhys Barratt (Cardiff), Rhys Carre (Saracens), Nicky Smith (Leicester), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Dragons), Ben Warren (Ospreys), Sam Wainwright (Cardiff)
- Hookers: Liam Belcher (Cardiff), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Evan Lloyd (Cardiff)
- Locks: Adam Beard (Montpellier), Ben Carter (Dragons), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester), Teddy Williams (Cardiff)
- Back row: James Botham (Cardiff), Olly Cracknell (Leicester), Kane James (Exeter), Harrison Keddie (Dragons), Alex Mann (Cardiff), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), Tommy Reffell (Leicester), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Ryan Woodman (Dragons)
Backs (21)
- Scrum-halves: Ellis Bevan (Cardiff), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), Tomos Williams (Gloucester)
- Fly-halves: Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins)
- Centres: Bryn Bradley (Harlequins), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), Louie Hennessey (Bath), Eddie James (Scarlets), Max Llewellyn (Gloucester), Joe Roberts (Scarlets)
- Wings: Josh Adams (Cardiff), Mason Grady (Cardiff), Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol), Tom Rogers (Scarlets)
- Fullbacks: Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester), Ellis Mee (Scarlets), Blair Murray (Scarlets)
