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The team contained some future Wales and British & Irish Lions players while others have since quit rugby
Wales blew away the opposition on their way to a Grand Slam title(Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
Wales head coach Steve Tandy has named his 48-man squad for this summer’s fixtures against the Barbarians, Fiji, Argentina and South Africa, with six uncapped players receiving their first call-up.
While exciting young talents like Exeter Chiefs back row Kane James and giant Harlequins centre Bryn Bradley are in the mix, some have waited longer for their shot at senior international rugby than others, with Dragons stalwart Harri Keddie being included in a Wales squad for the first time at the age of 29.
It comes 10 years after Keddie lit up the U20s Six Nations as part of a remarkable Wales side that blew away the competition on their way to a phenomenal Grand Slam victory.
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Led by head coach Jason Strange, the Welsh side recorded a clean sweep of wins, including a six-try thumping of England away from home, before sealing the title with a resounding victory over Italy in Colwyn Bay.
Keddie is not the only member of that team who lifted the title that day to make the breakthrough to international rugby, with several players going on to represent their country at senior level. However, for others, it just hasn’t happened, while a couple have walked away from professional rugby for good.
A decade on from their sensational Slam, here’s where the class of 2016 are now.
Rhun Williams
Once tipped to win at least 50 caps for Wales, the talented full-back looked set to make his senior bow when he was called up to Robin McBryde’s squad for the 2017 summer tour, only to be ruled out by a back injury.
While it looked as though it would be a matter of time before the Cardiff star got his chance again, it ultimately never came as a cruel twist of fate saw him hang up his boots in 2020 at the age of just 22.
In making a heroic try-saving tackle while playing against Zebre in 2018, Williams suffered left-sided peripheral nerve damage in his neck and, despite undergoing two years of extensive rehabilitation, he was ultimately advised to stop playing by experts.
Since retiring, the now-28-year-old has moved into the construction industry and is now an award-winning site manager with John Kelly Construction Services in North Wales.
Joe Thomas
A centre by trade, Thomas replaced the injured George Gasson on the wing for the Grand Slam-clinching win over Italy.
He was let go by the Ospreys in 2019 as he became a casualty of Project Reset and budget cuts, leaving to play club rugby in New Zealand. However, he returned to the UK to sign with Leicester Tigers a short while later, only to be released by the English top-flight side and left without a club again at the age of 24.
Thomas, who has also represented the Dragons and Major League Rugby side Houston Sabercats, later joined Swansea RFC and it was confirmed last week that he would continue to lead the club as head coach for next season.
The now-30-year-old was appointed head coach in January after Jonathan Thomas stepped down from the role due to ill health, and led the club to its first silverware in 25 years as they lifted the Super Rygbi Cymru Plate.
A player-coach, Thomas is also in his third season as head coach of Swansea University’s men’s team in the BUCS Super Rugby Championship, having previously coached in the Ospreys age-grade set-up and served as a Welsh Rugby Union hub officer.
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Harri Millard
A key figure for Cardiff, the versatile back finished last season as the top try scorer in the United Rugby Championship and penned a long-term contract to stay at the Arms Park.
However, despite some hugely impressive performances for the region, it has never quite happened for Millard on the international stage, with the 29-year-old still uncapped at senior level.
Owen Watkin
One of the stars of the 2016 campaign, the powerful centre soon forced his way into the Wales senior-set up, winning his first cap against Australia in the autumn of the following year.
Ospreys star Watkin has gone on to win 46 caps for his country, establishing himself as the most accomplished defensive midfielder at Tandy’s disposal, but was a shock omission from the Wales head coach’s summer squad on Monday.
While he has not played international rugby since suffering a serious knee injury against France at the start of the 2025 Six Nations, the 29-year-old was named in Tandy’s squad for the most recent campaign and was expected to play an important role in the coach’s plans this summer.
Keelan Giles
After a sensational Six Nations campaign with the U20s, the then-18-year-old – who was yet to make a senior appearance for the Ospreys – was flown out to New Zealand to provide injury cover for Warren Gatland’s squad during their summer tour.
No Test cap came his way that summer, but after a superb start to the following season saw him scoring eight tries in five matches, Giles quickly became billed as Welsh rugby’s next big thing. Again, he was called in as injury cover for the autumn internationals, but never made it off the replacements bench against Japan.
A senior Wales cap continued to elude him on a tour of Tonga and Samoa the following summer, before a torrid run of knee injuries saw him lose the best part of two seasons of rugby.
However, after nearly a decade of waiting, Giles finally made his senior Wales debut in last summer’s win over Japan in Kobe. In the autumn, he also signed a new deal to remain with the Ospreys, having now scored 48 tries in 124 appearances for the region.
Dan Jones
The fly-half played a key role in the Grand Slam campaign, amassing 52 points over the course of the tournament and proving calm, reliable and intelligent in his game management.
He spent over a decade at the Scarlets, scoring 682 points in 153 matches and playing an important part in the region’s Pro12 title win in the 2016/17 season.
A senior international call-up never came however, with Jones leaving Welsh rugby in 2024 and joining English second-tier side Ealing Trailfinders. He has gone on to play 40 matches for the CHAMP Rugby outfit, who are reportedly in talks to join the URC after winning all 25 of their league matches this season to seal a fourth title in five years.
Reuben Morgan-Williams
The Neath-born scrum-half was another who enjoyed a hugely impressive run of performances during the U20s’ Grand Slam campaign, picking up the man of the match award against Scotland.
In the years that have followed, Morgan-Williams has established himself as a consistent performer and key figure for the Ospreys, proving a real threat with ball in hand.
He won his first senior Wales cap in the victory over Japan in Kobe last summer, before making a second Test appearance in the 79-0 drubbing at the hands of South Africa in the autumn.
However, he is yet to add to that tally having been left with a watching brief during the Six Nations, with Tomos Williams and Kieran Hardy both ahead of him in the current pecking order.
Corey Domachowski
The powerful loosehead broke into the Cardiff senior team following his Grand Slam win, playing in four of the club’s pool stage matches on their way to winning the Challenge Cup in 2018.
He almost left the Arms Park in 2023 due to financial constraints, but later that year he won his first senior international honours, making his Wales debut against England in a summer Test before playing four of his side’s five matches at the Rugby World Cup.
However, Domachowski hasn’t added to his tally of 10 caps since the 2024 Six Nations, while he has struggled for game time at Cardiff due to injury and selection, with the likes of Danny Southworth and Rhys Barratt overtaking him in the pecking order.
It was confirmed at the end of April that he will swap regions this summer, leaving the Welsh capital after more than a decade to join Scarlets ahead of next season.
Dafydd Hughes
The dynamic Carmarthen-born hooker started every game of the U20s’ Slam campaign and went on to spend seven years with the Scarlets, working alongside the likes of Wales international front rowers Ken Owens and Ryan Elias.
Hughes left west Wales at the end of the 2022/23 season and joined English Championship outfit Jersey Reds, but only a few months into his stint on the Channel Islands, the club ceased trading, leaving him fearing for his future.
However, he was handed a lifeline back in Wales by Cardiff in October 2023, with the now-30-year-old since making 29 appearances for the Arms Park side in all competitions.
Dillon Lewis
A superb campaign with the U20s in 2016 saw tighthead Lewis make his senior Wales debut against Tonga the following year, and he has gone on to win 57 caps for his country, winning the Six Nations in 2019 and playing at two Rugby World Cups.
He hasn’t played for Wales since the 2024 Six Nations following a cruel run of injury setbacks, but has now won a place in Steve Tandy’s squad this summer after returning to form with the Dragons in recent weeks.
Lewis – who previously made 88 appearances for Cardiff – moved to Rodney Parade last summer after a spell in PREM Rugby with Harlequins.
Shane Lewis-Hughes
While he played lock for the U20s, the Pontypridd product has also established himself as a versatile back row player at senior level and is now a key figure in the Dragons pack.
Lewis-Hughes moved to Rodney Parade in the summer of 2024 after leaving Cardiff, where he came through the academy system, and won three international caps for Wales in 2020, under former boss Wayne Pivac.
His move to the Dragons saw his name come into contention for a Test recall, but the now-28-year-old – who also had a finger on his right hand amputated 18 months ago – is yet to add to his tally of caps.
Adam Beard
The 6ft 8in lock is arguably the most successful member of this U20s side, having gone on to win 65 senior international caps and represent the British & Irish Lions.
A consistent performer for club and country over the years, Beard also played close to 140 games for the Ospreys before leaving for French Top 14 side Montpellier at the end of last season.
He will likely add to his tally of international caps later this year having been named in Tandy’s squad for Wales’ summer fixtures.
Tom Phillips
The captain of the side displayed remarkable maturity as he led his team of Wales youngsters to a Grand Slam win at the age of 20, getting through mountains of hard work as he let others take the limelight.
Naturally, he was tipped for big things at senior level, but six years later he announced that he was stepping back from playing professional rugby aged just 26, following struggles with injury.
However, he continued playing as captain of the Llanelli RFC semi-professional side, while he moved into coaching with the Scarlets academy as he took up the role of development skills coach.
Phillips has since taken on a hybrid role as player, captain, and assistant coach with Carmarthen Quins, while also being appointed as head coach of Scarlets U18s.
Shaun Evans
The Felinfoel product enjoyed a fine campaign as he scored three tries in five games, but faced plenty of competition at senior level as he looked to break into the Scarlets side.
With James Davies, Josh Macleod, Dan Davis and Jac Morgan all vying for opportunities at openside during his time in Llanelli, the versatile Evans made 65 appearances for the region over eight seasons, with many of those coming at hooker.
Now 29, he left the Scarlets at the end of last season and joined Carmarthen Quins as captain for the 2025/26 campaign, having already made 73 appearances for the club.
Harrison Keddie
Hailed as an “outstanding” talent and a “real leader” by Wales U20s head coach Jason Strange during the Grand Slam campaign, Keddie was a standout player in the side, delivering a man of the match of the performance against England on the way to the title.
His eye-catching displays in the back row saw him called in to train with the Welsh senior squad later that year, with many tipping the Dragons man to one day replace the legendary Taulupe Faletau for club and country.
In the decade that has followed, Keddie has established himself as a key figure at Rodney Parade but an international call-up has never come his way – until now.
The 29-year-old has been named in Steve Tandy’s squad for Wales’ summer fixtures, with the head coach admitting his story is the perfect example of never giving up.
“It’s a great story,” said Tandy after he announced his squad on Monday. “Sometimes in these situations, you can give younger players the opportunity, but the way Harrison has gone around his business.
“He’s been at the Dragons for 10 years and has seen some tough times. But he’s come through it as the Dragons have developed.
“Everyone who has spoken about him says he’s an unbelievable trainer. He delivers on the field as well. He’s physical. You saw that on the field on the weekend.
“It’s a great story, but he’s an outstanding rugby player,” the Wales boss added. “It’s always exciting to give these guys an opportunity to come into the environment and show what they can do.
“It also raises the ceiling. Harrison has earned this opportunity. You’re not just giving it out because it’s a nice thing to do, he’s earned this opportunity. It’s well-deserved.”
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