This post was originally published on this site.
Steve Tandy named his 48-man summer squad on Monday and sparked plenty of debate
Wales head coach Steve Tandy has confirmed his 48-man squad for next month’s Barbarians fixture and the inaugural Nations Cup campaign later this summer.
As with any squad selection, Monday’s announced has already sparked plenty of debate amongst fans, who have been quick to say who deserved their spot as well as identify those who were perhaps fortunate to make the cut. However, the omission of one star in particular has left fans scratching their heads, with their absence branded “criminal” by some supporters.
Once an ever-present in the Wales squad, Rio Dyer has now been overlooked for four successive international campaigns, having last played for Wales in a 12-45 defeat at home to South Africa in November 2024.
JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest news, analysis and much more
After missing out on a place in Warren Gatland’s final squad at last year’s Six Nations, the Dragons wing also did not feature in Tandy’s first two squads as head coach.
However, after coming through a tricky spell to rediscover his love of rugby, Dyer has delivered a series of fine displays for the Rodney Parade side this season, scoring seven tries in all competitions and playing a key role in the Dragons’ recent upturn in form.
Having also shown his strength in defence and under the high ball, the 26-year-old was seen as a likely candidate for a recall to the Welsh squad for this summer, particularly with Mason Grady and Ellis Mee currently sidelined with injury and Gabriel Hamer-Webb unlikely to be available for the Barbarians clash.
But when Tandy announced his squad on Monday, Dyer’s name was again nowhere to be found, leading fans to vent their frustrations on social media.
“Leaving Rio Dyer out isn’t unlucky, it’s criminal,” wrote one supporter on X, while another added: “Rio Dyer done dirty by Wales again. Couldn’t have pressed his case anymore than he has this season.”
A third described it as a “farce” and another as “an absolute disgrace”,” while one wrote: “Deeply disappointed that Rio Dyer has snubbed again, especially given how good he’s been this season.”
Wales VIP hospitality tickets from £330
Seat Unique offers VIP hospitality tickets for Wales’ autumn internationals including New Zealand and Australia
Grady, Mee and Hamer-Webb have all been named in the squad, with Josh Adams, Blair Murray, Louis Rees-Zammit and Tom Rogers the other back-three options.
After leaving Dyer out of his Six Nations squad and calling up Hamer-Webb earlier this year, Tandy told Scrum V: “I think they’re fair questions in and around selections.
“Having calls with the boys, it is hard at the end of the day, when we’re selecting people there’s a lot of thought that goes into it. We do watch every moment and, again, scoring tries is a big thing for a winger [but] we look at everything, whether it be aerial, whether it be communication and defence, so there’s a whole package to everything.
“Rio has done really well since he’s gone back, the Dragons are doing really well which is awesome to see,” he added. “But we were watching and speaking to Gabe for a long time.”
Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here for all the breaking news.
