Wales name 38-man squad for the 2026 Guinness Six Nations
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Rugby’s greatest championship.
Wales senior men’s head coach Steve Tandy has named a 38-man Wales squad for the 2026 Guinness Six Nations, with Dewi Lake named as captain.
Two uncapped players are selected among the 20 forwards and 18 backs named today: Leicester Tigers wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb and Bath Rugby centre Louie Hennessey.
Tomas Francis is selected for Wales for the first time since the Rugby World Cup 2023.
There are also call-ups for James Botham, Sam Costelow, Ryan Elias, Josh Macleod, Mason Grady, Eddie James and Owen Watkin in a Wales squad that has an average age of 26 and a half.
Players will assemble in camp on Monday, 26 January, to begin preparations for the Championship.
Wales kicks off its Guinness Six Nations campaign at 4.40pm on Saturday, 7 Februar,y away to England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
The following weekend Wales returns to Cardiff to host France at Principality Stadium on Sunday 15 February, kick off 3.10pm.
In a new format to the Championship, Wales then face Scotland at home on Saturday 21 February, kick of 4.40pm, before a fallow week.
Wales then travel to Dublin to face Ireland at 8.10pm on Friday 6 March, before a week later returning back home to host Italy at 4.40pm in the middle fixture on ‘Super Saturday’ 14 March in the final round of the campaign.
As agreed with Six Nations and announced ahead of last year’s competition, Principality Stadium’s roof will close for all three of Wales’ home Guinness Six Nations fixtures in 2026.
For the full list of 2026 Guinness Six Nations fixtures visit the official Championship website.
WALES SQUAD FOR 2026 GUINNESS SIX NATIONS
Forwards (20)
Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 19 caps)
Adam Beard (Montpellier – 61 caps)
Liam Belcher (Cardiff Rugby – 4 caps)
James Botham (Cardiff Rugby – 18 caps)
Rhys Carre (Saracens – 23 caps)
Ben Carter (Dragons – 14 caps)
Olly Cracknell (Leicester Tigers – 2 caps)
Harri Deaves (Ospreys – 1 cap)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 44 caps)
Tomas Francis (Provence Rugby – 77 caps)
Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby – 11 caps)
Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 26 caps)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 26 caps) captain
Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – 11 caps)
Josh Macleod (Scarlets – 4 caps)
Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 11 caps)
Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 58 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 44 caps)
Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby – 7 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 62 caps)
Backs (18)
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 65 caps)
Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 19 caps)
Dan Edwards (Ospreys – 7 caps)
Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 14 caps)
Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 15 caps)
Kieran Hardy (Ospreys – 28 caps)
Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester Tigers – uncapped)
Joe Hawkins (Scarlets – 7 caps)
Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby – uncapped / heb gap)
Eddie James (Scarlets – 4 caps)
Ellis Mee (Scarlets – 4 caps)
Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys – 2 caps)
Blair Murray (Scarlets – 14 caps)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears – 35 caps)
Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 13 caps)
Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 17 caps)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 43 caps)
Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 67 caps)
