Wales Rugby Team Gears Up for November Tests with New Squad
The Wales rugby team is preparing for a challenging series of November Tests, and coach Warren Gatland has named a 35-man squad to take on Fiji, Australia, and South Africa. The team will be led by Dewi Lake, who previously captained Wales on their tour of Australia in July and held the co-captaincy at last year’s Rugby World Cup.
Experience and Youth Combine in Exciting Squad
Gatland has selected a mix of experienced players and young talent, including two uncapped players, Freddie Thomas from Gloucester and Blair Murray from Scarlets. Thomas played for England at under-20 level, while Murray is a former New Zealand Schoolboys international. The squad also sees the return of several players who missed out on the two-Test tour to Australia, including Adam Beard, Ryan Elias, and Will Rowlands.
Key Players Return from Injury
Jac Morgan, who was co-captain with Lake at the World Cup, returns to the squad after injury, and Gareth Anscombe, who last played for Wales 13 months ago, is also back in the fold. Anscombe was injured in the warm-up for the game against Georgia and missed the rest of the season, ruling him out of the Six Nations and the tour of Australia.
Dragons’ Scrum-Half Rhodri Williams Returns After 10-Year Absence
In a surprise move, Gatland has recalled Dragons’ scrum-half Rhodri Williams, who last played for Wales 10 years ago. Williams won three caps in 2013 and 2014 but has not been picked since.
Wales Looks to Break Losing Streak
Wales have lost their last nine Tests, and if beaten by Fiji in Cardiff on November 10, they would equal their longest run of successive losses. However, Gatland is confident that his team can turn things around, saying, “We feel this is an exciting squad with some experience coming back to join the younger players. We know they are going to work incredibly hard as a group this November.”
Full Squad Announced
The full 35-man Wales squad includes:
Forwards: Keiron Assiratti, Adam Beard, James Botham, Ben Carter, Ryan Elias, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (captain), Evan Lloyd, Kemsley Mathias, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree, Tommy Reffell, Will Rowlands, Nicky Smith, Freddie Thomas, Gareth Thomas, Henry Thomas, Christ Tshiunz, Aaron Wainwright.
Backs: Gareth Anscombe, Ellis Bevan, Sam Costelow, Rio Dyer, Mason Grady, Josh Hathaway, Eddie James, Max Llewellyn, Blair Murray, Tom Rogers, Ben Thomas, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Rhodri Williams, Tomos Williams, Cameron Winnett.
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