Wales Announces 36-Player Squad for Contenders South Africa and Australia

Wales has named a squad of 36 players, including four uncapped talents, for upcoming tests against South Africa and Australia. Coach Warren Gatland has included 22 forwards and 14 backs, providing breaks to some key players. The squad will later be trimmed for the Australia matches as they aim to improve game management and collision dominance.

Wales named four uncapped players on Monday in a squad of 36 players for tests against world champions South Africa and Australia over the next six weeks. Scrumhalf Ellis Bevan and fullback Jacob Beetham along with wingers Keelan Giles and Josh Hathaway have a chance to win their first caps after being included among the 22 forwards and 14 backs named by coach Warren Gatland.

He has given breaks to Josh Adams, after an injury-plagued season, Ryan Elias and Will Rowlands while Adam Beard misses out due to injury Ben Carter, Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree and Christ Tshiunza return after missing this year’s Six Nations Championship due to injury while Liam Williams was playing in Japan. Wales lost all five games to finish bottom.

Gatland said he had selected a bigger squad because Wales will not be able to field English-based players in the test against South Africa at Twickenham on June 22. That includes Six Nations captain Dafydd Jenkins. They will reduce the squad to 34 players for the trip to Australia for two tests on July 6 in Sydney and July 13 in Melbourne.

"I think everyone appreciates and realises we’re building towards 2027. There were moments during the Six Nations where we played some really good rugby and put the opposition teams under some pressure, but we probably weren’t accurate enough," Gatland said in a statement. "The big focus for us is about our game management and to get better with that. But we also want to improve our collision dominance whether that’s attack or defence and create some more depth and competition within the squad," the coach added.

Squad Backs: Jacob Beetham, Ellis Bevan (both Cardiff), Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies (both Scarlets), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Keelan Giles (Ospreys), Mason Grady (Cardiff), Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Josh Hathaway (Gloucester), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Kubota Spears), Cameron Winnett (Cardiff)

Forwards: Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff), Ben Carter, Elliot Dee (both Dragons), Corey Domachowski (Cardiff), Archie Griffin (Bath), Cory Hill (Secom Rugguts), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Harlequins), Evan Lloyd, Mackenzie Martin (both Cardiff), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Harri O’Connor (Scarlets), Sam Parry (Ospreys), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Matthew Screech (Dragons), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Henry Thomas (Castres), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons). (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ed Osmond)