Wales are now just a year away from the Rugby World Cup, and the window of opportunity is narrowing for those hoping to force their way into Steve Tandy’s plans. Tandy will already have a clear idea of the core of his squad for Australia, but there remains time for a handful of players to make a late charge. The coming season represents a crucial opportunity for those on the fringes to put themselves firmly in the frame.
Here are seven players who could earn their first senior Wales cap over the next 12 months.
Che Hope
The 23-year-old was one of the Dragons’ standout performers last season before a leg injury in March brought his campaign to a premature end. 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.
Tomos Williams remains Wales’ established first-choice scrum-half, while the Ospreys duo of Kieran Hardy and Reuben Morgan-Williams have also featured regularly in Tandy's squads to date. But should Hope recapture the form he showed before his injury, he has a genuine opportunity to force his way into the Wales set-up and earn his first cap this season.
Cameron Jones
The 24-year-old loosehead caught the eye for the Ospreys towards the end of last season and was invited to train with Wales ahead of their summer clash with the Barbarians. At 6ft 4in and 128kg, Jones has the power to make his presence felt at scrum time, but it is his work in the loose that sets him apart. He is an explosive ball carrier, capable of making serious post-contact metres, and possesses an unusual degree of attacking threat for a prop.
In the Ospreys’ defeat by Cardiff at the Arms Park towards the end of last season, Jones produced a remarkable 70-metre break and he also has the handling skills to offload through contact. Wales have no shortage of forwards who can provide ballast, but there is a scarcity of big, powerful carriers with the explosiveness Jones possesses. In that regard, he fits a particular need. Rhys Carre and Nicky Smith look well placed for the World Cup squad, while the experienced Gareth Thomas remains in contention. But there is still room for a bolter, and Jones has the next year to make a compelling case that he should be the man to emerge from the pack.
Rhys Barratt and Deian Gwynne
The 23-year-old Barratt enjoyed an excellent season with Cardiff, playing a key role in their run to the United Rugby Championship play-offs and helping secure qualification for the Champions Cup. Barratt is firmly on Tandy’s radar, having come off the bench in Wales’ uncapped fixture against the Barbarians this summer. His work around the park is a particular strength and he regularly features near the top of Cardiff’s tackling and carrying statistics. He is also a talented footballer as demonstrated by the sensational 50/22 he produced in their Challenge Cup victory over Racing 92 in January. The obvious question is whether Barratt’s scrummaging is sufficiently dominant for the demands of Test rugby. But with his all-round game continuing to develop, the Cardiff prop is certainly knocking on the door.
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. The 20-year-old back-rower also became a regular in Gloucester’s matchday 23 towards the end of last season. If he can maintain that level and perform consistently in the Gallagher Prem this term, it will become increasingly difficult for Wales to overlook him. Gwynne is an industrious, fiercely physical back-rower with a formidable work-rate and a willingness to carry hard. But his most valuable quality may be his leadership and the influence he has on those around him. Wales have genuine depth in the back row, yet Gwynne has the character and ability to force his way into the conversation. It would be a surprise if he were not handed his first cap before the season is out.
Bryn Bradley and Macs Page
The 23-year-old Bradley was rewarded for an impressive season with Harlequins with a place in Wales’ extended training squad this summer. Bradley did not make the final cut for the Nations Championship, but he looks increasingly like a player on the brink of his first cap. He is a different proposition to the inside centres Tandy and attack coach Matt Sherratt have favoured in recent months. Rather than acting as a second playmaker at 12, Bradley is an explosive, direct ball carrier in the mould of the Wales great Jamie Roberts. He has the power to make substantial post-contact metres, while his acceleration and ability to break the gain line make him a constant threat. His offloading is another weapon, allowing him to turn hard carries into opportunities for those outside him. If Wales are looking for a more abrasive, physical presence in the midfield, Bradley offers something distinctly different.
The 21-year-old Page was included in Wales’ squad for their tour of Japan in the summer of 2025 but was not handed his first cap. Page is one of the most naturally gifted backs in Welsh rugby, although his progress appeared to stall at the beginning of last season when he was overlooked for the Scarlets side. The setback seemed to affect his confidence, but when his opportunity came towards the end of the campaign, he seized it impressively. He is a talented footballer capable of conjuring something from nothing, combining explosive pace and elusive footwork with the vision to exploit even the smallest openings. That ability gives Page a point of difference. His aerial work and defensive game still require improvement, but those are areas that can be developed. What cannot be coached quite so easily is the instinctive talent he possesses, and Page has enough of it to suggest that international rugby remains well within his reach.
Liam Wright
The 28-year-old is a former Wallabies captain, but his Welsh credentials come through his grandfather, who was born in Pembroke. Provided Wright is not selected by Australia this season, he will become eligible to play for Wales in the summer before the tournament when his three-year stand-down period expires. He would be a significant addition to Wales’ back row. The new Ospreys signing is an athletic and powerful forward who possesses the kind of x-factor that can change a game. Wright is an outstanding lineout operator but is equally at home in the wide expanses of the pitch, where his pace and physicality make him a dangerous presence. For a Wales side looking to strengthen its options in the back row, securing Wright would represent a considerable coup for Tandy.
