Steve Tandy has named his Six Nations squad ahead of Wales’ tournament opener against England
Steve Tandy has named his Wales squad for the 2026 Six Nations, with prop Tomas Francis returning and Leicester Tigers wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb a shock inclusion.
In his first Six Nations squad selection since being appointed head coach, Tandy has also recalled several players who missed out on selection for the autumn internationals, with Sam Costelow, James Botham and Mason Grady among those to return to the fold.
Dewi Lake has been named as captain, with the injured Jac Morgan still sidelined, while Francis will return to international action for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The 77-cap tighthead has spent the last two-and-a-half years in France with Provence and ruled himself out of Wales selection, but spoke of his aspirations to wear the red jersey again when he signed for Sale Sharks last week.
Former Cardiff star Hamer-Webb, meanwhile, has come as a surprise inclusion in Tandy’s plans, with the 25-year-old one of two uncapped players in the squad alongside Bath’s Louie Hennessey, who was involved in the autumn squad.
As for those who missed out on a spot, Tommy Reffell and Rio Dyer are notable omissions, as are Jake Ball and Ross Moriarty, who had been tipped for recalls..
There is also no place for the likes of Bristol Bears’ James Williams and Dragons scrum-half Che Hope, who had been identified as potential bolters.
Welsh-qualified England U20s star Kane James also misses out, having been ruled out for two to three months with an ankle injury shortly before Tuesday’s squad announcement.
Tandy’s announcement comes after Monday night’s bombshell news that the Welsh Rugby Union have chosen Ospreys owners Y11 Sports & Media as its preferred owners of Cardiff Rugby.
Wales’ 2026 Six Nations squad:
Forwards: Keiron Assiratti, Adam Beard, Liam Belcher, James Botham, Rhys Carre, Ben Carter, Olly Cracknell, Harri Deaves, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Archie Griffin, Dafydd Jenkins, Dewi Lake, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, Taine Plumtree, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Freddie Thomas, Aaron Wainwright
Backs: Josh Adams, Sam Costelow, Dan Edwards, Jarrod Evans, Mason Grady, Kieran Hardy, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Joe Hawkins, Louie Hennessey, Eddie James, Ellis Mee, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Blair Murray, Louis Rees-Zammit, Tom Rogers, Ben Thomas, Owen Watkin, Tomos Williams
