Key Points
- Uncapped Call-ups: The Dragons uncapped forwards Anirin Owen (26) and Che Hope (23), a scrum-half, are two among those selected in the 39-man squad for the autumn Nations Championship for Wales.
- Re-call of key forwards: Head coach Steve Tandy has re-called the lock forward from Dragons Seb Davies (first time since 2022) and the Cardiff number eight forward Taine Basham, along with the Dragons wing forward Rio Dyer.
- Notable Exclusions: The Leicester Tigers flanker Tommy Reffell misses out because of his knee injury (four to six weeks out), as well as Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff number eight back from injury) and in-form Scarlets wing forward Macs Page.
- International Call-backs: Lock Dafydd Jenkins, tight-head forwards Tomas Francis and Archie Griffin, hooker Liam Belcher, and centre Louie Hennessey make their return after missing the Tests against Fiji, Argentina, and South Africa in July.
- Squad Breakdown: There are 39 players in total in the squad and the captain for the side is the hooker Dewi Lake. There are 14 English-based players, one lock from Montpellier Adam Beard, seven each from Cardiff and Scarlets, six from Dragons and four from Ospreys.
Cardiff (Cardiff Daily) October 20, 2026 – Wales head coach Steve Tandy has selected a 39-strong national squad for the upcoming November Nations Championship fixtures, handing debut call-ups to uncapped Dragons duo Aneurin Owen and Che Hope as well as Cardiff prop Rhys Barratt. Hooker Dewi Lake has been retained as captain for an autumn campaign that sees Wales face Japan, New Zealand, and Australia in Cardiff before traveling to Twickenham for finals weekend.
Which Uncapped Players Have Earned Their First International Call-Ups?
As reported by Chris Kirwan of BBC Sport Wales, uncapped Dragons centre Aneurin Owen and 23-year-old scrum-half Che Hope have been included in the 39-man Wales squad for the upcoming autumn campaign. Joining the Newport-based duo as the third uncapped player in the group is Cardiff loose-head prop Rhys Barratt, who previously featured in a summer fixture against the Barbarians.
Owen, a 26-year-old native of Newport, was previously a member of the Wales squad during the summer of 2021 but did not feature in the Tests against Canada or Argentina. As detailed by Chris Kirwan of BBC Sport Wales, Owen has been a key member of a Dragons side that has built on an encouraging 2025-26 season with a promising start to the 2026-27 campaign.
Regarding Owen’s inclusion, head coach Steve Tandy stated:
“Aneurin has been so consistent, you only have to look at what he has done week in and week out. I have spoken to a lot of people around how consistent he is with his training standards, communication on the field and attitude to work. He sees the game really well.”
Tandy further added:
“The Dragons have been really competitive and he is a massive driver around that. He thoroughly deserves his opportunity because his performances have set him aside from everyone else.”
Owen receives his opportunity following an injury to Cardiff centre Ben Thomas, joining Eddie James, Joe Hawkins, Max Llewellyn, and Louie Hennessey as midfield options. Meanwhile, 23-year-old scrum-half Che Hope enters his first international camp alongside Tomos Williams and Reuben Morgan-Williams. Hope’s inclusion comes as Gloucester-bound or Ospreys half-back Kieran Hardy faces a lengthy lay-off following a knee injury. Commenting on the young scrum-half, Steve Tandy remarked:
“Che is a really exciting talent, and the way that he has performed for the Dragons has been outstanding.”
Who Has Been Recalled and Who Misses Out on Selection?
As noted by Chris Kirwan of BBC Sport Wales, head coach Steve Tandy has called up Dragons lock Seb Davies and Cardiff number eight Taine Basham for the first time since taking charge of the national team. Davies, who moved from Cardiff to Dragons in the summer of 2025, aims to win his first cap since the 2022 Six Nations.
Cardiff back-row forward Taine Basham gets the nod ahead of fit-again Taulupe Faletau, who made his first appearance of the season for Cardiff against Northampton. Basham last featured for Wales against England in the 2024 Six Nations. Explaining his selection, Steve Tandy stated:
“At the end of last season when Cardiff were playing the South African teams, Taine was really impressive and really fronted up. He has kicked on and settled into Cardiff really well. He has been telling me all about his line breaks! He’s a great character, and this is a great opportunity.”
In the backline, Dragons winger Rio Dyer earns a recall after last appearing in his 24th cap against South Africa in November, while Leicester Tigers’ Gabriel Hamer-Webb also returns after debuting against Scotland in the Six Nations.
However, there are notable omissions and injury absentees. Leicester Tigers open-side flanker Tommy Reffell misses out after suffering a knee injury that will keep him sidelined for four to six weeks. Reffell is targeting a return for Tigers following the conclusion of the Nations Championship. Additionally, there is no place in the squad for in-form Scarlets winger Macs Page.
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How Is the 39-Man Squad Structured Across the Regional Clubs?
As reported by Chris Kirwan of BBC Sport Wales, lock Dafydd Jenkins, tight-head props Tomas Francis and Archie Griffin, hooker Liam Belcher, and centre Louie Hennessey all return to the fold after being unavailable for the July Tests against Fiji, Argentina, and South Africa. Belcher was selected ahead of United Rugby Championship (URC) leading try-scorer Elliot Dee as the third hooker behind captain Dewi Lake and Ryan Elias.
Addressing the returning cohort, Steve Tandy stated: “It’s great to welcome back the players who were unavailable for the first three rounds of the Nations Championship. Added to that, there are a number of players who’ve been in great form for their clubs, and so we wanted to give them an opportunity in the squad this autumn.”
The selection features 14 players based at English clubs alongside Montpellier lock Adam Beard. Domestically, Cardiff Rugby and Scarlets provide seven players each, six represent Dragons RFC, and four are selected from the Ospreys. Ahead of the upcoming URC round, back-row forward Taine Plumtree and centre Joe Hawkins have been granted permission to travel to South Africa with Scarlets for their match against the Stormers.
Full Wales Nations Championship Squad
- Forwards: Rhys Barratt, Rhys Carre, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake (captain), Liam Belcher, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Archie Griffin, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Ben Carter, Seb Davies, Dafydd Jenkins, Teddy Williams, Taine Basham, James Botham, Kane James, Alex Mann, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree, Aaron Wainwright.
- Backs: Che Hope, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Tomos Williams, Sam Costelow, Dan Edwards, Joe Hawkins, Louie Hennessey, Eddie James, Max Llewellyn, Aneurin Owen, Josh Adams, Rio Dyer, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Ellis Mee, Blair Murray, Louis Rees-Zammit, Tom Rogers.
Background of the Particular Development
The announcement of the 39-man Wales squad marks a crucial stage in Steve Tandy’s ongoing rebuilding process following his appointment as head coach. Entering the autumn window of the newly structured Nations Championship, the Welsh coaching staff faces the dual imperative of establishing test-match consistency while broadening the squad’s talent pool ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup cycle.
The inclusion of uncapped players such as Aneurin Owen, Che Hope, and Rhys Barratt reflects a tactical decision to integrate young, form-driven domestic talent into the senior setup. Owen’s path to selection follows a prolonged period of recovery from past injury setbacks and consistent performances for the Dragons, while Che Hope’s swift ascent addresses depth concerns at scrum-half caused by Kieran Hardy’s injury. Furthermore, the recall of experienced regional performers like Seb Davies and Taine Basham highlights a dynamic selection policy aimed at rewarding recent United Rugby Championship form over historic caps.
How This Development Can Affect the Particular Audience
The selection of this 39-man roster will directly impact several key stakeholder groups across the Welsh rugby landscape:
- Welsh Rugby Supporters and National Team Fans: For the national fanbase, the inclusion of vibrant, form-driven regional players offers renewed optimism following recent international transitions. However, the absence of proven, elite international performers such as Taulupe Faletau and Tommy Reffell presents an immediate structural challenge. Fans will closely watch whether the untested half-back and midfield combinations can maintain operational composure against tier-one southern hemisphere opposition like New Zealand and Australia.
- Welsh Regional Clubs (Dragons, Cardiff, Scarlets, Ospreys): The call-ups serve as a major endorsement for domestic development pathways, particularly for the Dragons, who see six representatives included. Conversely, regional coaching staff will have to manage squad rotation during the autumn period, balancing player workload and player release agreements for fixtures like Scarlets’ trip to South Africa.
- The Selected Players and International Squad Depth: For uncapped players like Hope, Owen, and Barratt, this campaign provides a career-defining platform to test their skill sets at the highest tier. Successful integrations will foster intense internal competition, raising overall standards across the training environment and securing long-term positional depth across the national roster.
