Wales head coach Steve Tandy announces his squad for the 2026 Six Nations
This is Tandy's first Six Nations squad after taking over the job last September
Tandy will speak to the media from the Vale Resort at around 13:30 GMT
The squad will link up in the final week of January before the Six Nations opener away to England on 7 February
Wales have finished bottom of the Six Nations for the past two years
There will be reaction to Tandy's selections and also to the Welsh Rugby Union entering into talks with Ospreys owners Y11 Sport & Media to discuss the prospect of them buying rivals Cardiff
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyOwen Watkin scored against Montpellier at the weekend
Ben Thomas and Joe Hawkins have been named as the ball-playing options at 12 while Owen Watkin is back to be a physical presence in the absence of Max Llewellyn at 13.
Eddie James and the uncapped Louie Hennessey are also selected but there is no room for the experienced Nick Tompkins.
Big wing Mason Grady could be another option at centre.
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyLet's have a look at selections by position...
Tandy has opted for Josh Adams, Mason Grady, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Ellis Mee, Blair Murray, Louis Rees-Zammit and Tom Rogers.
There will be questions over where Rees-Zammit plays – will he be fielded at full-back after the diminutive Blair Murray struggled in the air in the autumn?
Adams was red-carded against Japan and Rogers scored a hat-trick against the All Blacks.
Grady is back from injury to add a physical option while Ellis Mee was lively for Scarlets at Northampton at the weekend.
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Quote MessageNo Reffell? Outrageous!
Matt, Germany
Quote MessageI mostly like the squad, but Hamer-Webb over Rio Dyer, given the contrasts in form, is an odd pick. I'd have brought back Jake Ball to add some size to the pack too.
James, Penarth
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyWales are spoilt for choice in the back row, which means Leicester open-side Tommy Reffell and combative Ospreys blind-side or number eight Ross Moriarty continue to be overlooked.
Scarlets lock Jake Ball, who was forced off at Northampton with a head injury, does not earn a call-up at the age of 34.
Nick Tompkins remains an influential figure for Saracens but misses out to fit-again Owen Watkin.
Callum Sheedy misses out to Sam Costelow, who made an impressive return from an ankle injury for Scarlets, as the third choice fly-half to go with Dan Edwards and Jarrod Evans.
Wing Rio Dyer, who featured in the autumn finale against South Africa, could not have done much more after showing terrific form for Dragons.
Alex Cuthbert
Former Wales wing
I'd say it's probably not far off the best squad that we can get together, obviously the likes of Jac Morgan are injured.
In the back three, maybe a notable omission - a guy that's been playing well for the Dragons - is Rio Dyer.
It must be a decision around that and maybe giving [Gabriel] Hamer-Webb some international experience and game time.
There must be something key that they see in his game.
I just think with Dyer probably going pretty well at Dragons, they must be seeing something that we're not at the moment.
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Jonathan Davies
Former Wales fly-half on X
Can’t have no regional rugby in an area which has produced so many great players from Bridgend, Maesteg, Aberavon, Neath, and Swansea. Haven’t we learnt our lesson from alienating Pontypridd. We need to embrace everyone.
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyFull-back/wing Blair Murray is among nine Scarlets representatives
Plenty of focus on how many players are from Cardiff and Ospreys given the news out there. Here's the totals from the Welsh quartet
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyTomos Williams was one of just two Welsh players picked for last summer's British and Irish Lions tour of Australia
Wales got battered by South Africa when without their players based in England and France in the autumn.
They won't have to cope without anyone in the Six Nations, although players will technically have to go back to their clubs inbetween.
There are two players based in France and 11 in England.
Image source, Getty ImagesGabriel Hamer-Webb scored a hat-trick against Ospreys at the Principality Stadium in April 2025
Tandy names just two uncapped players – Leicester’s former Cardiff wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb and Bath centre Louie Hennessey, who was included in the autumn squad.
Hamer-Webb is a shock inclusion in the squad despite being a fringe figure at Leicester.
The 25-year-old wing left Cardiff for Welford Road last summer but has made just seven appearances, three of them in the second-string Premiership Cup.
An elusive and powerful runner, Hamer-Webb is well known to assistant coach Matt Sherratt.
However, his inclusion at the expense of Rio Dyer is sure to raise a few eyebrows.
Hamer-Webb is part of a strong Wales contingent at Leicester with Sale-bound prop Nicky Smith and back-row forward Olly Cracknell also included, while Aaron Wainwright is joining Tigers from Dragons in the summer.
One Leicester man that does miss out again is tenacious flanker Tommy Reffell.
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyTandy is boosted by the return of some established internationals.
There are recalls for tight-head prop Tomas Francis, hooker Ryan Elias, back-row forwards James Botham and Josh Macleod, fly-half Sam Costelow, centre Owen Watkin and wing Mason Grady.
Experienced tight-head Francis, who is currently with Provence in France’s second tier but has signed for Sale for next season, last played for Wales at the 2023 World Cup.
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyDewi Lake will captain the 877-cap squad for the campaign
Forwards (20)
Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff), Adam Beard (Montpellier), Liam Belcher (Cardiff), James Botham (Cardiff), Rhys Carre (Saracens), Ben Carter (Dragons), Olly Cracknell (Leicester), Harri Deaves (Ospreys), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Provence), Archie Griffin (Bath), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter), Dewi Lake (Ospreys, capt), Alex Mann (Cardiff), Josh Macleod (Scarlets), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Leicester), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Backs (18)
Josh Adams (Cardiff), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), Mason Grady (Cardiff), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), Louie Hennessey (Bath), Eddie James (Scarlets), Ellis Mee (Scarlets), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Tomos Williams (Gloucester).
Wales squad announcement (12:30 GMT)
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencySteve Tandy and his assistants Danny Wilson and Matt Sherratt were joined by Dan Lydiate, Duncan Jones and Rhys Patchell in the autumn.
The three former internationals will return for the Six Nations on an interim basis.
Lydiate and Patchell are on the Dragons' staff - with Patchell working one day a week with the kickers - while Jones is at Ospreys.
Wales squad announcement (12:30 GMT)
Simon Thomas
Rugby journalist speaking to Radio Wales Breakfast
I've been doing this job for over 35 years, and I've seen plenty of criticism of the WRU in that time, but I've never known such an overwhelming negative reaction to something they've done.
Wales squad announcement (12:30 GMT)
Lauren Salter
Speaking to the Radio Wales Phone In
Most of the questions to Steve Tandy in today's press conference are going to be around the future of the game.
Of course it overshadows the squad announcement.
Wales squad announcement (12:30 GMT)
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyTandy probably had a number of players inked into his squad for the Six Nations but several individuals made a late push in round four of the European rugby at the weekend.
Wing Rio Dyer, who played once in the autumn, has been in super form for the Dragons.
The Rodney Parade club's promising flanker Ryan Woodman, who can also fill in at lock, has also been impressing.
Fit-again Owen Watkin has been doing well for Ospreys while wing or centre Mason Grady and back-row forward James Botham have been strong since returning from injury at Cardiff.
Scarlets have been struggling but fly-half Sam Costelow, wing Ellis Mee and hooker Ryan Elias performed well in the plucky performance in defeat by Northampton on Sunday.
Wales squad announcement (12:30 GMT)
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyTandy will be without captain and flanker Jac Morgan because of a dislocated shoulder suffered against Argentina in the autumn opener.
Centre Max Llewellyn, a starter against Argentina, Japan and New Zealand, is also out with a knee problem suffered with Gloucester.
Number eight Taulupe Faletau, who had to drop out of the autumn squad because of a knee injury, has suffered another blow, calf this time, and will be out of the start of the Six Nations.
Lock Adam Beard has been out since December with a shoulder issue but said in Bridgend at the weekend, where he was watching his Montpellier teammates beat his old club Ospreys, that he is very close to a return.
Wales squad announcement (12:30 GMT)
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencySteve Tandy names his first Six Nations squad shortly but his big autumn calls were the return of Louis Rees-Zammit after his spell in American football plus recalls for prop Rhys Carre and fly-half Callum Sheedy (who didn’t feature).
He named five uncapped players in the initial 39-strong squad – Ospreys lock James Fender and back-row Morgan Morse, Dragons hooker Brodie Coghlan, Cardiff prop Danny Southworth and Bath centre Hennessey.
Tandy would go on to call up Leicester number eight Olly Cracknell and Ospreys flanker Harri Deaves, while he had to bring in a raft of players for the finale against South Africa when without those based outside Wales.
Wales squad announcement (12:30 GMT)
Phil Steele
BBC Wales commentator on X
Thoughts with Ospreys players, coaches, other employees and most importantly, supporters today. Inconceivable that the most successful team and the entity that most embraced the concept of regionalism faces the axe. Though I still have hope that this saga may not be over yet.
Wales squad announcement (12:30 GMT)
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencySadly, Wales are used to off-field drama impacting their preparations and this Six Nations campaign will be no different.
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) plan to cut four clubs down to three and there is the prospect of Ospreys owners Y11 Sport & Media buying rivals Cardiff, who are currently owned by the governing body.
Tandy names his squad soon – which will feature Gloucester-bound Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake – and plenty of those will be impacted in some way by the developments.
International players won’t struggle to get jobs but plenty of players at the four regions will be wondering how they will be hit by a potential cut of the clubs.