There are just 16 months until Wales kick off their Rugby World Cup campaign against Zimbabwe in Adelaide. While Steve Tandy needs to achieve victories in the here and now, a big part of his remit when appointed as head coach was to ensure Wales would be competitive in Australia in 2027. For every Welsh player, the goal will be to make that 33-man squad which leaves Heathrow Airport in September 2027. Barring injuries, many players are virtually nailed on to go but there are also those playing catch-up who need a big 2026/27 season. These are the players who need to kick-on.
Christ Tshiunza
First, the Professional Rugby Board must determine whether Tshiunza remains eligible to represent Wales. With only 15 caps, he risks becoming a casualty of the controversial 25-cap rule following his move from Exeter Chiefs to Sale Sharks. There is precedent for such cases. Similar situations have previously been referred to the PRB, with particular weight given to whether the player received a competitive offer from a Welsh side before opting to sign a new contract with a club outside of Wales. Tshiunza will certainly have given Tandy some food for thought after a handful of excellent performances for Exeter Chiefs.
The 24-year-old was outstanding in the semi-final victory over Bath at the Rec which booked Exeter's place in the Gallagher Prem final. Tshiunza scored a sensational individual try from 45 metres out as he sidestepped Santiago Carreras on his way to the try line. He has shown glimpses of what he is capable of on the international circuit but injuries have curtailed his progress. However, it appears Tshiunza has turned a corner and the fact he can cover the entirety of the back-five of the scrum is useful. If he transfers his end of season form at Exeter over to Sale Sharks then he will become difficult for Tandy to ignore.
Elliot Dee
The experienced Dragons hooker was a regular in the Wales squad during the Warren Gatland era, with the New Zealander labeling Dee as the most underrated player in his squad. But Dee has slipped down the Wales pecking order after missing the vast majority of the season due to injury. Tandy has included Dewi Lake, Ryan Elias, Liam Belcher and Evan Lloyd in his extended summer squad. But if Dee can regain his form and stay injury-free next season then he stands a strong chance of forcing his way back into the squad. The 32-year-old is extremely accurate at the lineout and gets through a mountain of work around the park. He has held his own on the international stage for the best part of a decade and will want to appear in one final Rugby World Cup. But there are some younger hookers like Cardiff's Lloyd and his fellow Dragon Brodie Coghlan who are both on an upward trajectory.
Brodie Coghlan
The 25-year-old has taken some big steps forward for the Dragons and won his first Wales cap against the All Blacks last November. But he was left out of Tandy's Six Nations squad and is not involved this summer so clearly he has some areas he needs to work on. Coghlan is a very physical hooker who carries well and regularly makes those all important post-contact metres. He is a high-impact player whose numbers are high in terms of tackles made and rucks hit. While he is solid in the set-piece, he does give away one too many penalties, and he can be a little inaccurate at times. But this should be easily fixable and he certainly has the raw materials to make it as an international player. Coghlan arguably has a higher ceiling than some of the hookers currently in the national squad but the 2026/27 season will be a big one for the Dragons man.
Morgan Morse
The 21-year-old has long been viewed as one of the best prospects in British rugby, let alone Welsh rugby. Morse was a star at age-grade level and made a strong start to his professional career with some eye-catching performances. The former Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera pupil scored a sensational individual try from inside his own half in the mud and the rain in the Ospreys' victory over Cardiff in January 2024. He won his first senior Wales cap against the All Blacks last November. Things were going very well for Morse but he was not selected in Wales' Six Nations or summer squads and did not get much game time for the Ospreys during the latter part of the season. Morse remains a top prospect and is still very young but he does need to hit the ground running in the 2026/27 season to give himself the best chance of making Tandy's World Cup squad because if there's one area Wales are not short of talent it is the backrow. But Morse has the potential to develop into a high-class international player.
Rio Dyer
The Dragons wing was a regular in the Wales squad at one stage but has had a rough ride over the past couple of seasons. Dyer won a recall last autumn but was left out of both the Six Nations and summer squads despite playing well for the Dragons. The 26-year-old is strong under the high ball which is a strength of his and has plenty of pace to burn, scoring seven tries for the Dragons this season, while his defence is much improved. But it still hasn't been enough to force his way back into the Wales reckoning and he needs a big season if he's to make the World Cup squad.
Rhys Davies and James Ratti
Both players have been in and out of the Wales squad over the past couple of seasons. Davies and Ratti have been consistently excellent for the Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship with their work rate and physicality standing out. But despite not having a run of games at Test level neither has made a mark on the international game yet. Wales are starting to build some depth at lock with the likes of Dafydd Jenkins, Ben Carter, Adam Beard and Teddy Williams, while they have plenty of options in the backrow. Both players will be in the conversation but need to go up a few levels to become Wales regulars.
Johnny Williams
The Scarlets centre is another player who has excelled at regional level but has not quite been able to nail down a regular place in the Wales squad. Williams is a key player for the Scarlets and is an extremely physical centre with good footwork who regularly makes significant dents in opposition defences at club level. The 29-year-old has never let Wales down when called upon, but he arguably needs to add some more strings to his bow to push himself back into contention.
