Wales head coach Steve Tandy is expected to name his squad for the second part of the Nations Championship in the coming weeks. The head coach faces several significant selection dilemmas, with a number of players pushing hard to disrupt the established order.
Here is the squad we believe he should select.
Back-three: Time for Hamer-Webb?
Wales arguably need to find a greater cutting edge in the back three. Louis Rees-Zammit is nailed on after an outstanding display in Bristol Bears' victory over Northampton Saints last weekend, but he must be kept on the wing, where his electric pace can cause serious damage.
Full-back has been a problem area for Wales for the past couple of years. Rees-Zammit gave it a good go there, but Wales risk sacrificing his finishing ability if he is moved from the wing. Blair Murray is an exciting attacking talent, but he is not as assured as some of the other options under the high ball. Cardiff's Jacob Beetham should therefore come into consideration. He is strong aerially and, importantly, has plenty of footballing ability.
Mason Grady probably needs to be in the squad. He offers something different to the other options with his size and power, while his ability to cover centre adds another dimension. Ellis Mee, Rio Dyer and Gabriel Hamer-Webb could all be competing for one position. Mee is reliable under the high ball and a dangerous broken-field runner, while Dyer has made an encouraging start to the season with the Dragons. Hamer-Webb, meanwhile, has caught the eye at Leicester, most notably with his hat-trick against Saracens.
Perhaps it is time to give Hamer-Webb his opportunity.
Selected: Louis Rees-Zammit, Jacob Beetham, Josh Adams, Blair Murray, Mason Grady, Gabriel Hamer-Webb.
Centres: Physicality over playmaking?
There has been plenty of debate over whether Wales have the right balance in midfield. Attack coach Matt Sherratt has favoured a second playmaker at inside centre, but there is a growing argument that it is a luxury Wales can no longer afford.
Joe Hawkins and Ben Thomas both wore the No 12 shirt last season, with mixed results, to put it mildly. Wales too often lacked incision in midfield and, crucially, the physicality required to break the gain line. Eddie James may offer the best solution. He is an explosive carrier who can consistently make post-contact metres, but there is more to his game than brute force. He is also a capable footballer who can bring others into the game.
Wales will presumably want to retain either Hawkins or Thomas, while Bristol's James Williams provides another option as a playmaking 12. Powerful Harlequins centre Bryn Bradley, who was included in the extended summer squad, should also be in the conversation, while Mason Grady provides further versatility with his ability to cover centre.
The question for Sherratt is whether Wales need another playmaker or whether what they really need is someone capable of punching holes in the opposition defence.
Selected: Eddie James, Joe Hawkins, Louie Hennessey, Bryn Bradley.
Half-backs: Hope for a debut
Dan Edwards and Sam Costelow look to be Wales' first-choice options at fly-half as they build towards the Rugby World Cup. Ospreys playmaker Edwards is likely to go into November as the incumbent No 10, although Steve Tandy may look to rotate his options during the campaign. Jarrod Evans and Callum Sheedy provide experienced alternatives, but Edwards and Costelow look to be the selections.
Tomos Williams is nailed on to start and will be one of Wales' most important players as they build towards next year's World Cup in Australia. The Ospreys pair Kieran Hardy and Reuben Morgan-Williams have featured in recent squads, but Dragons scrum-half Che Hope should arguably be given a chance.
Friday's derby between the Dragons and Ospreys at Rodney Parade could prove particularly significant, with Hope going head-to-head with either Hardy or Morgan-Williams. Hope is an explosive attacking talent with genuine X-factor and has shown enough to suggest he deserves an opportunity to step up to the international stage.
Selected: Dan Edwards, Sam Costelow, Tomos Williams, Kieran Hardy, Che Hope.
Back-row: Depth creates tough calls
The back row is the most fiercely contested area of the squad and arguably the toughest to select, simply because Wales have genuine depth in the position. Jac Morgan is nailed on after making an outstanding start to his time at Gloucester.
Tommy Reffell is a fine player, but the fact he is an out-and-out openside could count against him, particularly given Kane James' meteoric rise. James was excellent for Exeter against Bath last Friday night, operating at openside flanker, and his ability to cover No 8 gives him an added advantage.
Alex Mann and James Botham have both impressed for Wales over the past 12 months and are highly regarded by Tandy, while Taine Plumtree is another option. Plumtree has yet to feature this season because of injury but is expected to return in the coming weeks. He has his critics, but there is an X-factor to his game and he is continuing to develop as a player. Aaron Wainwright is a certainty.
Selected: Alex Mann, James Botham, Jac Morgan, Kane James, Aaron Wainwright, Taine Plumtree.
Locks and front row: Experience vs form
Needless to say, Dafydd Jenkins comes straight back into the side, while Ben Carter has also established himself as an important player for Wales after stepping up during the 2025-26 season. Teddy Williams has arguably been the standout lock in Wales so far this season and was outstanding in Cardiff's victory over the Scarlets a couple of weeks ago.
The 25-year-old is an athletic player with the skillset of an international back, and his ability to move with the ball could add another dimension to the Wales pack. Adam Beard also needs to be in the squad, providing both experience and considerable physical presence. Freddie Thomas is an intriguing option. He has started the season at blindside flanker for Gloucester and has performed impressively. The question is whether that could ultimately prove to be his long-term position at international level.
It goes without saying that Dewi Lake will be included, with the Ospreys hooker the favourite to be named captain. The Scarlets have endured a disappointing start to the season, but Ryan Elias remains a quality operator. His size and physicality, coupled with his ability as a carrier, should see him earn a place in the squad.
Steve Tandy has a big decision to make over the final spot at hooker. Experienced Elliot Dee is back fit and underlined his credentials by being named player of the match in the Dragons' victory over the Scarlets at the weekend. Cardiff's Evan Lloyd is a player with a high ceiling and has made a significant impact in the opening two games of the season. Lloyd is a powerful, dynamic carrier who is also effective at the breakdown. He offers something slightly different and could be worth backing as Wales look to develop their options ahead of the World Cup.
Rhys Carre and Nicky Smith are the two first-choice looseheads. There is an argument for selecting Rhys Barratt ahead of Gareth Thomas, but the experience and scrummaging solidity of the Ospreys prop ultimately gives him the edge. Tomas Francis will come straight back into the starting XV, with Archie Griffin providing an impact option from the bench. Dillon Lewis and Ben Warren are also in the mix for the final tighthead spot, but Assiratti gets the nod because of his superiority at scrum time.
Selected: Dafydd Jenkins, Ben Carter, Teddy Williams, Freddie Thomas, Adam Beard, Dewi Lake (captain), Ryan Elias, Evan Lloyd, Rhys Carre, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Tomas Francis, Archie Griffin, Keiron Assiratti.
