Without having played a single game of the summer series, there have already been multiple changes to Wales’ squad.
Warren Gatland’s team face South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday, June 22, and the starting XV was named earlier this week. In the wake of that announcement, Gatland has already been forced to make a change after starting prop Henry Thomas suffered an injury in training, meaning Keiron Assiratti begins the match with Harri O’Connor comes onto the bench.
The initial 36-man squad announced on June 3 now looks somewhat different. Scarlets centre Eddie James was the first to be added shortly after it was named. He was initially earmarked to be part of the touring collective but his inclusion was dependent on a late fitness test. The 6ft 4in 21-year-old offers a physical option for Gatland in the midfield.
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Back five issues
The biggest blow of all came on team announcement day when it was revealed World Cup captain Jac Morgan had been ruled out the entire tour with an injury sustained on Ospreys duty against Munster.
With Morgan out, 10-cap openside James Botham was added to the squad. Ospreys forward James Ratti, who was not named in the squad, was then parachuted straight into the matchday 23 to face the ‘Boks and win his first cap.
It has since been revealed that Secom Rugguts lock Cory Hill is nursing a calf injury. With Wales’ lack of depth in the boiler house even before the squad was named, it made sense to call up a utility player like Ratti, who is able to cover off the back row too.
Ratti was actually part of the wider Wales squad during the 2022 Six Nations, but unfortunately never earned a cap.
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Giles out, Grace in
Keelan Giles sustained a groin injury and has been denied his first cap. Since then, Bath and former rugby league star Regan Grace has been called up to the squad, despite having never played an official professional match of rugby union.
This isn’t the first time Giles has missed out on a cap at the last hurdle either. The 26-year-old was on the bench for Wales against Japan eight years ago but unfortunately never made it on to the pitch.
His replacement, Grace, made his rugby code switch in 2022 when he joined Top 14 ‘Galacticos’ Racing 92, but didn’t manage to get on the field due to injury. Still nursing said injury, Grace signed for Bath, but is yet to make a competitive appearance for them. If he gets on the pitch for Wales this summer, that’ll be his first minutes in rugby union.
During his time in rugby league, Grace was a prolific try-scorer, crossing the whitewash 89 times in 143 games. He also won three Super League Grand Finals and one Challenge Cup.
Front row dilemma
To add to Wales’ troubles, Dragons RFC hooker Elliot Dee has now been ruled out of the tour with injury. Subsequently, uncapped Cardiff Rugby man Efan Daniel has been called in to the squad to train.
Dillon Lewis is also a doubt, as the Harlequins man is nursing an injury. Ospreys prop Ben Warren, 24, has been called into training as a result. Daniel and Warren are travelling reserves for Wales’ clash against South Africa.
There is real concern for Gatland at tight-head prop, and Lewis’ injury only makes that concern more genuine.
Ospreys hooker Sam Parry is also a doubt. He hasn’t been training much with the squad, but there is no confirmed injury at the time of writing.
The squad numbers now and who’ll be cut
So, things have got a bit complicated here. An initial squad of 36 players was named, which soon became 37 when Eddie James was added after his positive test results. Since then, Keelan Giles and Jac Morgan have been officially released and replaced by Regan Grace and James Botham, while James Ratti has also been added, taking the squad to 38.
Elliot Dee is out but yet to be officially released, while Efan Daniel and Ben Warren are training with the squad but are not yet official call-ups.
Gatland will cut the squad to 34 players for the tour of Australia after Saturday’s match.
The full list of changes and doubts
- Out – Elliot Dee, Keelan Giles, Jac Morgan.
- Officially called up – Eddie James, Regan Grace, James Botham, James Ratti.
- Called in to train – Ben Warren, Efan Daniel.
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Doubts – Sam Parry, Henry Thomas, Cory Hill, Dillon Lewis.