This post was originally published on this site.
Steve Tandy has included six uncapped players in his latest Wales squad and there are more than a few surprise names catching the eye.
The Wales head coach has opted for an extended 48-man group as he looks to build greater strength in depth ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Attention will now turn to the inaugural Nations Championship fixtures against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa, as well as the uncapped clash with the Barbarians at Twickenham next month.
Here, we take a closer look at the six uncapped players selected by Tandy and why each has earned their opportunity.
Kane James
The fact the 21-year-old has opted to play for Wales over England is a massive coup for the Welsh Rugby Union, which has faced criticism after missing out on players like Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Kepu Tuipulotu.
James originally hails from Haverfordwest but played his junior rugby for St Peters in Cardiff before joining Exeter Chiefs.
The dynamic backrower was a standout performer for England U20s, playing a starring role in their 2024 U20s World Cup-winning campaign.
James, who also qualifies for New Zealand, was the subject of a tug-of-war between Wales and England but has chosen to represent the land of his birth.
The Exeter Chiefs star can cover the entire backrow and is a player who has long been earmarked for great things.
James is a supreme athlete: a dynamic ball carrier with excellent footwork and a good skillset with ball in hand, and he is also extremely physical.
He is not a Scott Quinnell-style No 8 but is more similar to the type of loose forward typically seen in an All Blacks jersey; his athleticism is a big strength.
James had broken into the Exeter Chiefs starting XV at the start of the season but has been sidelined since sustaining an ankle injury against Cardiff in January; he is expected to return over the next couple of weeks.
“We’ve been picking him on merit – it’s not part of a development process, he’s been there because he’s been one of the better players,” said Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter back in January.
“He’s an outstanding talent. He’s a great young man as well.”
Wales VIP hospitality tickets from £330
Seat Unique offers VIP hospitality tickets for Wales’ autumn internationals including New Zealand and Australia
Bryn Bradley
The 23-year-old has been outstanding for Harlequins this season and is a player in the the same mould as Jamie Roberts.
At 6ft 5in and 16st 10lb Bradley is a big man who has no problems getting over the gainline and making vitally important post-contact metres.
Bradley also has an excellent offloading game that is very effective after crossing the gain-line.
While it has been a disappointing season for Harlequins Bradley has been one of their better players and was very impressive in the English club’s famous Champions Cup victory at La Rochelle in January.
Bradley was born in London but is Welsh-qualified courtesy of his mother who hails from Newport.
He represented Wales U20s but there was reportedly interest from the RFU, with the England A set-up eying him up so the WRU will see this as a victory.
Under attack coach Matt Sherratt Wales have employed a ball-playing 12 with either Joe Hawkins or Ben Thomas favoured.
Bradley is a different type of player and is somebody capable of dominating the gain-line.
“Having spoke to people involved with Quins they see him as a similar player to Andrew Esterhuizen who can get over the gainline,” Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin told WalesOnline in 2024.
“He can bring a similar type of impact but it will take time.
“He’s another player like Louie Hennessey who we think can have a big impact this year but if not he’s another player who could come back over the bridge. He’s a dominant force at 12 both sides of the ball.
“He’s a physical ball carrier, a physical defender who did well for Wales U20s.”
Harrison Keddie
Of the six uncapped players named in Tandy’s squad, Keddie is the most eye-catching selection.
The Dragons backrower is a former Wales U20s captain and played a starring role in the 2016 U20s Six Nations Grand Slam-winning campaign but at 29-years-old it seemed as if the opportunity to represent his country at senior level may have passed him by.
Keddie has been a solid performer for the Dragons for the best part of a decade and is a heavily respected member of the squad.
He is a grafter who gets through a huge amount of unseen work and is a very physical player.
It remains to be seen whether Keddie can successfully make the step up to Test rugby but he has been playing well for the Dragons and has been rewarded for his good form.
“With Harri Keddie he’s a doer,” said Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia in February 2025.
“He doesn’t really speak but when he does speak he captures the room. I like Harri. He’s a tough competitor and a tough loose forward.
“He gets his head in the hole. He doesn’t mind getting his nose smashed or broken and that’s the type of player I like.
“He’s really competitive but also leads by action.”
Ben Warren
The 26-year-old has been a member of previous Wales squads but has yet to win his first senior cap.
Having come the Cardiff pathway Warren was signed by the Ospreys in 2021. Warren, who is 6ft and 18st 7lbs, has represented Wales at U16s, U18s and U19s, as well as U20s level.
He has long been seen as a player with promise but he has struggled to nail down a starting position at the Ospreys with experienced South African Tom Botha a difficult player to dislodge.
But Warren is a decent scrummager and is a dynamic carrier but it is time he kicked on with his career.
Tighthead props typically take longer to develop and the hope is all the investment in Warren’s development will pay dividends over the next few years.
Former Ospreys boss Toby Booth was a big fan of Warren during his time in Wales.
“I think the biggest thing in the modern game is their physical potential and he certainly has physical potential,” said Booth back in 2024.
“From that point of view he’s someone we can be excited about but in those very positional-specific functional roles like tighthead, hooker, nine, 10 – the spine of your team, you need time in the saddle.”
Tighthead prop is an area of concern in Welsh rugby and Wales have struggled to develop destructive scrummagers at Test level.
With Tomas Francis taking the summer off and Archie Griffin undergoing surgery Wales could really do with Warren coming through over the next few months.
Rhys Barratt
The 24-year-old has been a standout performer for Cardiff this season and has played a pivotal role in the Welsh club’s push for a United Rugby Championship play-off place.
Barratt is a very talented player who gets through a mountain of work around the park and even kicked a sensational 50/22 during Cardiff’s Challenge Cup victory over Racing 92 in January.
The dynamic loosehead prop is regularly close to the top of the tackle and carrying charts every game.
He is also a jackal threat and has big moments in games, while his repeatabilty is also good.
Barratt is a decent scrummager at regional level but the big question is whether he can translate that onto the international circuit because it is a big step up.
“Since I have known Rhys, he has developed really well in terms of what we want and expect from a loose-head at Cardiff,” said Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl last month.
“As a young man, particularly in terms of props, his biggest work on is the set-piece and he is continually improving in that area but what sets him apart is his overall intent. The way he goes after players and teams is brilliant.
“He has a great mindset and willingness to learn and improve every day, but also to give his absolute all for the team.
“His rugby intelligence is also very good and with age and more time in this environment, he can continue to improve physically. He can be stronger, more powerful and explosive.”
Ryan Woodman
Former Wales U20s captain Woodman has been long been touted as a high-class future international player at senior level.
The 22-year-old has succeeded in translating his outstanding form at age grade level onto the senior Dragons team.
Woodman has been a big part of the Dragons’ improvements this season and was outstanding in the Welsh club’s famous Challenge Cup quarter-final victory over Stade Francais in Paris last month.
He is an outstanding lineout forward with the perfect blend of athleticism and raw physicality.
Woodman is a player who likes to get stuck in and is an effective carrier both in the tight and the wide channels.
The rising Dragons star has been on Wales’ radar for quite some time and was called into the squad midway through the Six Nations but is yet to win his first senior cap.
“It was a really good experience and loads of fun,” said Woodman in March when asked about his first taste of the senior Wales squad. “I learnt a lot and have seen where I need to be to get to that level in the future.
“I’ve been given work-ons but the main message is to keep doing what I have been doing and hopefully I can progress to get there.”
“The intensity of it is something that I had never experienced. Professional rugby is intense but training with Wales is another level.
“My main goal for the season was to be more of a physical presence, I want to be a big six. I definitely still have improvements to make but I am going in the right direction.”
