Wales have announced their squad for the summer tour of Japan, with interim coach Matt Sherratt introducing six new caps as he aims to secure a Test win after more than 600 days.
Cardiff hooker Liam Belcher, Dragons tighthead Chris Coleman, Ospreys loosehead Garyn Phillips, Ospreys scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams, Scarlets back Macs Page and Ospreys wing Keelan Giles are the newcomers in Sherratt’s 33-man squad for the two-Test tour in Japan.
Dewi Lake, an Ospreys hooker who captained Wales last summer and autumn, will lead the team in the absence of Lions call-up Jac Morgan. With only Morgan and Tomos Williams called up for the British and Irish Lions, there were unlikely to be many surprises.
However, even without a large Lions contingent, players such as James Botham, Gareth Anscombe, Ellis Mee, Nick Tompkins and Max Llewellyn from the Six Nations squad have been overlooked.
Second-rows Adam Beard and Will Rowlands are being rested, while Dafydd Jenkins and Henry Thomas are both sidelined due to injury.
Sherratt has recalled Kieran Hardy, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, James Ratti, Johnny Williams and Cameron Winnett to the Test squad. Ben Carter, Sam Costelow and Archie Griffin are all returning after missing the Six Nations due to injury.
“I’m excited to get the players together in camp to begin preparations for our summer campaign,” said Sherratt. “I think there’s a good blend of experience and young talent selected and that this group has a lot of potential.
“Going to Japan this July is a challenge the coaches and I are relishing. We are expecting a fierce contest from Japan in these Test matches.
“Over the next few weeks in camp, it’s about working hard, getting all our prep right on and off the pitch and gelling together as a group.”
Wales team members will report for duty in phases starting from Monday, depending on individual club obligations, before jetting off to Japan by the end of June.
Wales finds itself yearning for a win, with their last international rugby triumph dating back to their World Cup encounter with Georgia in October 2023 – meaning a 637-day wait by the time they clash with Japan this summer. Their road to victory begins with the first Test in Kitakyushu on July 5, followed by a rematch in Kobe a week later.
With no full-time successor for Warren Gatland secured yet, Sherratt is set to fill in as interim head coach again, having already taken the reins for the Six Nations’ concluding three fixtures after Gatland’s surprise mid-tournament exit.
Wales squad for Japan (uncapped players in bold)
Forwards: Keiron Assiratti, Liam Belcher, Ben Carter, Chris Coleman, Elliot Dee, Taulupe Faletau, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (captain), Josh Macleod, Alex Mann, Garyn Phillips, Taine Plumtree, James Ratti, Tommy Reffell, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Freddie Thomas, Aaron Wainwright, Teddy Williams.
Backs: Josh Adams, Sam Costelow, Dan Edwards, Keelan Giles, Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Blair Murray, Macs Page, Joe Roberts, Tom Rogers, Ben Thomas, Johnny Williams, Rhodri Williams, Cameron Winnett.
This story first appeared on Wales Online
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