Wales head coach Steve Tandy's immediate priority is building a squad capable of competing at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, which kicks off exactly a year today. But Welsh rugby must also look beyond that tournament, particularly towards the 2031 World Cup in the United States, given the emphasis being placed on investment in the pathway.
There is already plenty of promising talent coming through the Wales age-grade system, with a number of youngsters who could develop into Test players over the next five years. So, with that in mind, here is the Wales side that could take the field at the 2031 Rugby World Cup.
Back three and half-backs
15. Lewis Edwards - The Ospreys full-back excelled at the U20s World Championship this summer and was also invited to the senior squad's alignment camp which proves he is on Tandy's radar. The man from Pontarddulais has been outstanding for Swansea RFC and has previously picked up the Super Rygbi Cymru player of the season award. Edwards has also impressed this summer with Wales and while his aerial skill is his obvious point of difference he also hits good angles with ball in hand and makes intelligent decisions under pressure. Expect him to make his Ospreys breakthrough in the near future and a big future awaits.
14. Louis Rees-Zammit - The Bristol Bears winger will be 30 by the 2031 World Cup, so there is no reason to think he cannot still be around the Wales set-up by then. With the experiment at full-back shelved, Wales will look to get him into space on the wing, where his pace can tear open defences. The hope, of course, is that he still has that pace when 2031 comes around. Wales do have some promising young wings coming through, including Harry Rees-Weldon of the Dragons and Cardiff pair Rhys Cummings and Tom Bowen, so the competition for places should be fierce.
11. Macs Page - The 21-year-old endured a difficult first half of last season, just months after earning his first call-up to the Wales senior squad. But he rediscovered his form as the campaign progressed, and the talented utility back has continued to impress during pre-season with the Scarlets. Page is a gifted rugby player, blessed with sharp footwork and genuine pace. He has the rare ability to conjure try-scoring opportunities from seemingly nothing, making him a constant threat to opposition defences.
10. Carwyn Leggatt-Jones - The 18-year-old outside-half is one of the most naturally gifted rugby player in Wales. Leggatt-Jones has so much time on the ball and is an x-factor player worth getting excited about. He has already played in the United Rugby Championship for the Scarlets and will be 23 by the 2031 World Cup. But Dan Edwards and Sam Costelow should still be in the mix in 2031.
9. Che Hope - The 23-year-old was outstanding for the Dragons last season and may well have won a first Wales cap if he hadn't been struck down by injury. Hope offers a potent running threat and possesses the ability to break games open, with a knack for scoring tries allied to a sound set of fundamentals. There is an elusive quality to his game while he has the kind of x-factor that could serve him well if he makes the step up to international rugby. Wales U20s scrum-half Sion Davies may have also come through by 2031, while it is worth keeping an eye on Wales U18s number nine Alfie Luger.
Centres and back-row
13. Louie Hennessey - The Bath centre won his first cap during the Six Nations and he is certainly a player who has a big future in the game. Hennessey is a very explosive carrier with pace to burn but arguably his point of difference is his offloading game. He is very highly-rated by Bath's head of rugby Johann van Graan and at 27 he should be in his prime at the 2031 World Cup.
12. Steffan Emanuel - Ask anyone involved in Welsh rugby and they will identify Emanuel as an international star of the future. The Cardiff centre is another Wales U20s player who has been included in a handful of Tandy's alignment squads. Emanuel is a lovely footballer who has so much time on the ball and is a triple-threat player. Eddie James, Bryn Bradley and Joe Hawkins will also still be around in 2031.
8. Kane James - The Exeter Chiefs backrower made his Wales debut this summer after representing England at U20s level. He has been outstanding for Exeter in the Prem Cup in recent weeks and this will be a big season for the 21-year-old. James is an explosive carrier with the perfect blend of athleticism and explosive power. He should be in his prime by 2031 but Morgan Morse should also be around, while it is worth keeping an eye on young Scarlets No 8 Dom Kossuth.
7. Jac Morgan - The Gloucester star will be 31 by the time Wales arrive in the United States, but there is little reason to doubt that he could still be a key figure. Morgan has been outstanding for a struggling Wales side over a number of years, and his importance to the team cannot be overstated. If his development continues at its current rate he should only get better with age.
6. Deian Gwynne - The Wales U20s captain has long been regarded within the game as a future senior international, and his elevation to the senior side could come sooner than expected. Gwynne was invited to Wales’ alignment camp this summer before leading the U20s at the Junior World Championship in Georgia. Gwynne is an industrious, fiercely physical back-rower with a formidable work-rate and a willingness to carry hard. Ryan Woodman is also a player to keep an eye on.
Second row and front row
5. Ben Carter - The experienced Dragons lock will be 30 by 2031 so should still be in the mix. The Dragons lock impressed when he stepped into the breach in Wales’ narrow Six Nations defeat by Scotland and has since moved ahead of Adam Beard in the pecking order. Carter was entrusted with calling the lineout, while his work rate around the field is equally impressive. He will be a key player for Wales moving forward.
4. Dafydd Jenkins - The Exeter Chiefs lock is only 23 and will be a member of this Wales team for years to come. Jenkins is a natural leader who gets through a mountain of work and provides Wales with the physical edge they need in the second row. He should still be a key player for Wales in 2031.
3. Sam Scott - Tighthead prop remains an area of serious concern in Welsh rugby, with a shortage of genuinely destructive scrummagers coming through the ranks. Scott impressed with Wales Under-20s but has yet to establish himself at Bristol Bears and is now being courted by Cardiff. There is plenty of potential and if he fulfils it, Scott could develop into a cornerstone of the Wales pack by the 2031 World Cup.
2. Dewi Lake - The Gloucester hooker will be 32 by the 2031 World Cup, but should still be firmly in the mix. Lake is a powerful carrier, reliable at the set-piece and, perhaps most importantly, has emerged as the natural leader of this Wales side. By 2031, however, he could face serious competition from Cardiff hooker Tom Howe who is a serious prospect.
1. Ioan Emanuel - Emanuel was outstanding for Wales U20s with his scrummaging, and his ability to make post-contact metres with ball in hand earned him rave reviews. He has found game-time tough to come by at Bath and has joined Cardiff on loan. But he has the potential to be a serious operator at the 2031 World Cup.
Replacements and future prospects
16. Tom Howe - The 18-year-old is one of the best front-row prospects in the British game and Welsh fans should get very excited about Howe.
17. Rhys Carre - The Saracens prop will be 33 by 2031 but should still be in the mix with Wales.
18. Archie Griffin - One would hope the Bath prop will be in his prime by 2031 but despite his quality around the park he needs to become a more dominant scrummager.
19. Will Evans - The young Scarlets lock is a powerful carrier who does all the unseen dirty work. Evans has attended a couple of senior alignment camps.
20. Morgan Morse - The 21-year-old's progress has stalled of late but he is a quality operator with a high ceiling.
21. Alfie Luger - Watch out for the Wales U18s scrum-half who has made a big impression with Carmarthen Quins in Super Rygbi Cymru.
22. Dan Edwards - The Wales playmaker should be in his prime by 2031.
23. Rhys Cummings - The Wales U20s speedster is capable of playing wing and full-back. Cummings is a strong runner with ball in hand and is very good under the high ball.
