Wales rugby squad announcement live: Gatland names four uncapped players

It’s not just the attack stuff. It’s both sides of the ball. When we got through the videos with players, it’s stuff off the ball. He’s had some really good games for the Ospreys. We’ve got a load of good players in that position. For him, it’s working on those things.

Warren Gatland

Nicky has done alright. It’s about continuity in selection. We know what Nicky can do and with some of those players we want to keep them in the squad and develop them. The best example of that is Evan Lloyd. We brought him in, saw the potential which was identified by Cardiff, saw how he improved and now he’s starting for Cardiff last weekend.

Warren Gatland

We want to make sure we qualify him for Wales. He’s got lots of potential. He’s done some impressive things for Gloucester in attack.

Warren Gatland

The thinking behind that is looking at some other options, some depth at 10. Looking at a player who can play in a different position. There’s some good 10s in Wales, but they’re not big. We’re looking for that. Maybe someone like Ben Thomas or Jacob Beetham. We know Ben has had a couple of games there.

Warren Gatland

It’s pretty young. Pretty exciting. We’re pretty happy with the players we’ve got. We’ve tried to keep some continuity. The big focus is trying to build some depth.

Warren Gatland

It’s time to hear from Warren Gatland.

“We’ve selected a bigger squad because we don’t have the English club-based players available for the South Africa match. So we will be reducing the squad from 36 to 34 players for Australia.

“I think everyone appreciates and realises we’re building towards 2027. There were moments during the Six Nations where we played some really good rugby and put the opposition teams under some pressure, but we probably weren’t accurate enough.

“It’s about playing for longer periods, putting halves together and putting an 80-minute performance together which ultimately gives you confidence and gives you that opportunity to win games.

“We need to build on that. We need to keep working hard. We’ve got some experience to come back into the squad and some exciting players which is good.

“The big focus for us is about our game management and to get better with that. But we also want to improve our collision dominance whether that’s attack or defence and create some more depth and competition within the squad.”

Warren Gatland

Gloucester Josh Hathaway is one of four uncapped players in the squad, the others being Cardiff duo Ellis Bevan and Jacob Bettham, as well as Ospreys winger Keelan Giles.

Ben Carter, Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree and Christ Tshiunza all return after missing the Six Nations due to injury, while there are also recalls for Sam Parry, Henry Thomas, Cory Hill, Matthew Screech and back-three Liam Williams.

It’s certainly a youthful squad, with the average age coming in at just 25.

We’re just over 15 minutes away from seeing who will get the nod.

Stick around.

It will also be interesting to see who Warren Gatland names as his skipper. Dafydd Jenkins was captain for the Six Nations but Gatland has his World Cup skippers Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake back from injury.

Exeter Chiefs lock Jenkins will be unavailable for the South Africa Test but did a sterling job during the Six Nations.

It’s been a long season for many players in Wales. Due to the Rugby World Cup the more experienced players would have started the season last June for gruelling traning camps in Switzerland and Turkey.

Might Gatland rest a number of senior players with the likes of Josh Adams a prime candidate for this?

A reminder we are now expecting the squad to be released at 2pm today. A press conference with Warren Gatland will follow shortly afterwards and we’ll be bringing you every word as it happens.

Wales will be hoping to put a disappointing Six Nations campaing behind them this summer but it will be tough going. Warren Gatland will be boosted by the return of his Rugby World Cup co-captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake but huge unavailabity means Wales will struggle against the Springboks at Twickenham.

Wales stuffed Australia at the World Cup but the Wallabies are now coached by one of the worlds greatest in New Zealander Joe Schmidt. Having said over the past decade Wales have performed well when on tour and outside Welsh rugby’s toxic goldfish bowl.

It will also be Schmidt’s first game as head coach so there is an opportunity for Wales to sneak a Test win down under. Much of the focus has been building towards the 2027 World Cup with it being a case of short term pain for long term pain but Gatland could really do with at least one win this summer.

Warren Gatland could be about to recall some of the old guard who missed the Six Nations because of club commitments.

Gareth Anscombe has already ruled himself out of this tour but Liam Williams is a serious contender. The 33-year-old, who currently plies his trade for Kubota Spears in Japan, is very keen to continue his international career after missing the Six Nations.

WalesOnline understands Williams is keen to return to Wales next season so there is a strong chance he will be named in Gatland’s squad. Experienced lock Cory Hill is also someone who could be set for a recall especially given the amount of second-rows who are unavailable for the South Africa clash.

Henry Thomas is also eligible again after joining the Scarlets from French club Castres but it is unclear whether the former England prop is in Gatland’s plans.

Many fans will be desperate to see Ospreys No 8 Morgan Morris included. Morris has been in outstanding form at regional level for the past few years picking up player of the match awards as regular as clockwork.

The 25-year-old is a dynamic carrier but up to now Warren Gatland has never included the Ospreys star. Will that change today?

Time will tell but it would be a shock if Gatland did select Morris ahead of Aaron Wainwright or Mackenzie Martin while the likes of James Botham and Taine Basham can also cover No 8.

It will be interesting to see if Gloucester speedster Josh Hathaway makes the cut. The 20-year-old has been in top form for Gloucester but qualifies for both England and Wales.

With Louis Rees-Zammit no longer available and injury concerns surrounding Josh Adams the smart money is on Hathaway getting named in this squad. There’s also a good chance Cardiff utility back Jacob Beetham will join him if only to keep the 23-year-old away from the clutches of Scotland boss Gregor Townsend.

With Tomos Williams currently sidelined with injury Ospreys number nine Reuben Morgan-Williams could be another uncapped player in the squad. Scarlets centre Eddie James and Ospreys wing Keelan Giles could be other uncapped contenders.

One big issue facing Warren Gatland is the fact the South African Test falls outside of World Rugby’s designated international window which means the Kiwi cannot select players based in England or France.

Wales are facing a crisis at lock ahead of their clash with the world champions. Six Nations captain Dafydd Jenkins is unavailable along with Will Rowlands and Christ Tshiunza who all ply their trades outside of Wales.

On top of that Adam Beard, Teddy Williams and Rhys Davies are sidelined through injury while Seb Davies could be facing a suspension after getting sent off playing for Cardiff against the Ospreys on Judgement Day. As a result might Gatland select an extended squad before cutting it down ahead of the Australian tour?

The level of unavailabilities opens the door for other players with Dragons lock Ben Carter likely to benefit along with uncapped Ospreys forwards James Fender and Huw Sutton. There could also be a remarkable recall for Cory Hill who currently plies his trade for fourth division Japanese club Secom Rugguts.

Warren Gatland is set to name his Wales squad for the summer at 2pm today.

Wales take on South Africa at Twickenham on June 22 before embarking on a tour of Australia which includes two Tests against the Wallabies in Sydney (July 6) and Melbourne (July 13) before finishing off with an uncapped match against the Queensland Reds (July 19).

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