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  • URC Predictions – 2026-27 Season

    URC Predictions – 2026-27 Season

    With big names like Thomas du Toit, Cheslin Kolbe, Jamie Ritchie, and Ma’a Nonu all in the mix, this upcoming 2026-27 season of the United Rugby Championship looks to be hotly contested. While Leinster’s squad depth stands them in good stead to retain their title, there are plenty of teams who will look to challenge their space at the top or defeat their regional rivals. Let’s look at how I predict this season will go down. 

    16: Zebre Parma

    While Tommaso Allan should bring some backline control, it’s hard to see how Zebre will keep up this season. They’ve consistently been one of the weakest teams in the league, and despite their solid start last year, they couldn’t win a single game after round 1. They don’t have any clear weapons beyond some standout players like Gesi and Stavile, and it’s likely they’ll be the whipping boys this time around too given their lack of clear improvements. A lot of their nicer matchups last year are now away fixtures, which won’t help.

    15: Dragons RFC

    There’s a lot of optimism around this Dragons side, so I feel bad putting them this low. As of right now though, while Tiatia has their playstyle down to a tee, there just isn’t much quality in the current Dragons side to make the most of it, leaving them with few comfortable matchups this season. Given how well they pushed teams like Sharks and Benetton last year, and after the thrashing they gave Connacht, we could see a lot of the same, but there are a lot fewer comfortable home fixtures this time around. Still, they’re in a good spot off the pitch, which will help out tremendously were they to improve on last year.

    14: Edinburgh

    A team which is not having as much fun off-pitch, the re-signing of Sean Everitt and the lack of high-quality recruitments leaves Edinburgh in an awkward spot following what was a fairly difficult last season. While they managed to finish 12th, their performances didn’t reflect a team that was confident in their ambition to make the playoffs. James Grayson will bring some more stability at 10, but they feel like they’re going in reverse as a side. Their strong pack should help them out against the weaker teams, but they feel a mile off Glasgow in terms of depth and quality. With a lot of young Scottish talent, this could be a much stronger side in a few years time, but it’d be surprising if they were any better this year.

    13: Scarlets

    Also in a tough spot off the field, but compared to their rivals in Swansea, the Scarlets’ signings don’t really strike fear into mid-tier sides. The Scarlets are in something of an identity crisis, as their strong setpiece that got them into playoffs two years ago has largely vanished while their strong attack out wide has been marred by indiscipline. They’ve brought in the experienced Gareth Anscombe, who should help Costelow out with game management, but it seems they’re only a few bad injuries again from the team that capitulated last season. They certainly have the quality for playoffs, but their execution is unlikely to be consistent enough.

    12: Benetton Treviso

    Benetton’s placement is buoyed by their weak shield, but while they’ve taken steps to alleviate their poor depth, international commitments will likely crush them. A new coach should at least give them enough of a boost to escape the bottom 4, but losing Menoncello will be a big hit to their attacking power. They’ve got some big threats out wide with Lynagh and Ratave, and with their Italian internationals on hand they can do some impressive things. But on the other side of the ball, they’re not as consistent, and they only won a single game away from home to Zebre last year. A new coach is unlikely to fix all of that.

    11: Sharks

    Sharks are tough to call, given they have one of the strongest setpieces in the league and Thomas du Toit will only elevate their destructive power. Still, they have fairly weak depth, and really hate playing outside of South Africa. With the Lions’ rise, someone is likely to come last in the South African derbies, and the departures of Grant Williams, Siya Kolisi, and Aphelele Fassi won’t help. They can completely destroy some impressive teams in Durban, but compared to their playoff run two years ago, they aren’t consistent enough to feel like a safe playoff choice next to their rivals.

    10: Ospreys

    You’d think the loss of Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake would make the Ospreys fall off. And it’s entirely possible they will, but Mark Jones has recruited strongly to give them a fairly powerful squad overall. Rogers and Koroibete should give them more threats out wide, while they have signed Liam Wright to mitigate Morgan’s departure. Like the Sharks, though, their lack of consistency hits them hard. They’ll need to cause some upsets or lock down the Welsh Shield if they are to make playoffs, which isn’t out of their reach, but they’re just as likely to blunder would-be victories as they are to cause upsets.

    9: Munster

    This was tough, but Munster feel like a team in decline thanks to their poor off-field management. McMillan had a rough first season in charge despite Munster’s strong start to the year, but it felt like they crawled into their playoff space and they certainly weren’t a dominant force. With Crowley being injured until the new year and their departures on the wing, their attack could face some real problems, as Thomond Park isn’t the fortress it once was. The old Munster side that was one of the toughest in Europe is in there somewhere, but they may need a sterner wake-up call before that happens.

    8: Cardiff

    Cardiff and Ospreys’ placement will probably come down to the Welsh Shield results, but while the Ospreys may end up weaker without Jac and Dewi, Cardiff look to be on the rise. Jarrod Evans’ return and Daniel Bowden’s appointment should upgrade their attack, which held them back a lot last year as they rely on defensive struggles to close out games. They do have some excellent power out wide, but haven’t been able to make the most of it in past seasons; should they do so, playoffs will feel like less of a fluke than last year, where they finished with a -19 differential. They’re also very reliant on home fixtures, but they still have some winnable away matchups to target.

    7: Lions

    Like Cardiff, the Lions are very reliant on home fixtures, but they score far more points than the former. Chris Smith has been the driving force of a progressively improving Johannesburg team, best shown by their far better performance against the touring All Blacks in pre-season than their rivals. New signings like Boan Venter, Dan Kasende, and Boeta Chamberlain should give them sufficient depth and quality  to make the playoffs a second time, though it may take an away win or two to get there depending on whether they can replicate their derby day performances. They certainly don’t feel like the weakest South African side anymore.

    6: Ulster

    A young but quickly developing squad, Ulster were unlucky to miss playoffs last year, but should be even stronger this year. While their improved form has resulted in them being more affected by the international periods, their attack should be more than enough to carry them. Being in the Challenge Cup should make it easier to manage the workload of their players, too. While Ravenhill’s status as a fortress was tested last year, the team can travel well and should pick up more than enough wins to make it, provided they do reasonably well in the Irish derbies.

    5: Bulls

    Their departures will sting a lot, as they are unlikely to stay the dominant force of previous seasons. Players like Nortje, Arendse, and especially Wilco Louw gave the Bulls unmatched quality across the board. By contrast, while Hanro Liebenberg and Thaakir Abrahams look like great signings, their incomings don’t match the quality of their outgoings, which is concerning given their up-and-down performance last season. Still, the Bulls possess one of the strongest setpieces in the league, and should have no trouble making playoffs thanks to their unmatched physicality. They may need some time to re-gel before they can contend for the title again, though.

    4: Connacht

    Connacht are becoming really scary. Stuart Lancaster managed to take a team near the bottom of the league and turn them into a force capable of beating anyone; their victory over Stormers in Cape Town is unlikely to be a one-off. With the team in a much stronger place than they were this time last year, this doesn’t seem like an unrealistic placement for the end of the season. However, Champions Cup rugby and the loss of players to international selection gives Lancaster some new problems to contend with, and it’s unclear how they’ll adapt with their relatively weaker depth. Ciaran Frawley and the returning Mack Hansen should make them an even stronger side than last season, though, so I’m excited to see them at their best.

    3: Leinster

    Leinster have been the dominant force of the league two years in a row, despite their shaky start after the Lions tour. However, they look like a slightly weaker squad now. There are no Jordies or Ioanes from New Zealand, while they also haven’t signed a backup to Jamison Gibson-Park after Luke McGrath’s departure. This might make them weaker in the mid-season when they lack their international players, not helped by Connacht and Ulster’s improvements challenging them for the Irish Shield. Still, they’re Leinster. They should be in no risk of missing playoffs or a home quarter-final, and a third successive championship isn’t unlikely either.

    2: Glasgow Warriors

    Glasgow have lost Huw Jones and Jack Dempsey, which should be concerning, but with how well Stafford McDowall played last year and Jamie Ritchie signing on, they likely won’t be a worse side for it. They have solid depth across the board, even with their international contributions, and they compete with Europe’s best at full strength, so they’re certainly eyeing some silverware. Their fast, free-flowing attack will give everyone headaches, and Scotstoun is one of the toughest away fixtures one can play. 

    1: Stormers

    With only three signings, Stormers have established that they are ready to aim for that home final. Louw, Kolisi, and Kolbe are world-class Springboks who should elevate an already strong Stormers side who were unlucky to miss finals the year before. There’s a great mix of experience and youth, able to mix a powerful and destructive setpiece with free-flowing attack seamlessly, allowing them to tweak their game depending on the opponent. They’ll face strong competition from their rivals in the South African derbies, but they look to have the strongest team of the four, and their depth won’t be challenged by this being a World Cup year.

    Playoff Run:

    QUARTERS

    Stormers vs Cardiff: Same as last season; Cardiff may be improved, but the Stormers are on another level, especially at home.

    Glasgow vs Lions: In Johannesburg, this could be an interesting result. In Scotstoun, it shouldn’t be much of a contest. Glasgow’s attack is a lot scarier than the Lions’.

    Leinster vs Ulster: This would be an exciting quarter final, and a real grudge match. With their Ireland internationals, Leinster shouldn’t blunder this, but they may end up working for it.

    Connacht vs Bulls: Dead even, could go either way depending on who shows up. With the improvements made to their setpiece and Lancaster’s structure, Connacht should just pull away from them at home.

    SEMIS

    Stormers vs Connacht: Connacht won here last year, so they’ll fancy their chances. They certainly aren’t to be written off, but they’ve come far enough. Stormers have more to lose, and would be desperate for another final.

    Glasgow vs Leinster: This is another fixture that tends to be decided by the home team. However, Leinster are a finals regular, while Glasgow fumbled to Bulls last year at home, so it’s anyone’s game. With their internationals available, Leinster might just clutch.

    FINAL

    Stormers vs Leinster: Can the Stormers upset Leinster’s win streak? It may depend on fine margins. With their new signings, Stormers have more than enough quality to challenge Leinster’s gameplan, and someone’s going to make Leinster bottle a final eventually, so I’d bank on the home team.

    Champions: Stormers

    Miscellaneous Predictions

    Player of the Season: Paul de Villiers. He only seems to be getting better, and with Kolisi alongside him as a mentor on both the club and international stages, he’ll be crucial to Stormers’ playoff chances.

    Impact Signing: Ciaran Frawley. He brings some real quality at 10 for Connacht, who will need it if they are to compete with the top sides and their world-class 10s. He may not take over kicking duties from Sam Gilbert, but he’s more than capable of scoring clutch drop goals when needed.

    Breakthrough Player: Jamie Benson. He could probably also go on impact signings, but with Ulster’s fairly mediocre 10 stocks, he’s primed for a great season. Stuck behind Marcus Smith, but still a great attacking force at Harlequins, he should add a net positive to Ulster’s attack.

    Coach of the Season: Stuart Lancaster. Connacht are likely to be even better this season, and with a second year to shape the side, his experience combined with their new signings should give them plenty of ways to win.

  • Scarlets Depth Ranking & Preview – URC 2026-27

    Scarlets Depth Ranking & Preview – URC 2026-27

    Last season was one of the Scarlets’ worst in their history; only 4 wins and only barely managing to get ahead of Cardiff for their only win of the Welsh derbies, following a generally impressive previous year where they managed to make playoffs and build some genuine optimism of where their young squad can go. For this season, they’ve recruited heavily, with 10 new signings; more than any of the Welsh regions, as they look to recapture their fast-flowing attack and powerful setpiece that earned them an 8th place finish in 2024-45.

    While their overall discipline remains a concern, playoffs wouldn’t be an unrealistic goal for the Scarlets, given the quality of their players that have earned several of them Wales call-ups; they’re only slightly behind Cardiff in the number of current internationals they have. However, the existential threat placed on them by the WRU will be considerable baggage, so if they are to push for a higher placement than last season, they’ll need to fix their problems quickly to build up the momentum and morale.

    Loosehead Prop: Kemsley Mathias, Corey Domachowski, Josh Morse, Sam O’Conner

    Alec Hepburn’s departure to Edinburgh has been compensated by the signing of Corey Domachowski, who should prove a more stable force in the scrum than Mathias. This gives the region two Wales internationals with different skillsets, while Josh Morse was a real breakthrough last season. Not bad, but a lot of their penalties come from here. 7.5/10

    Hooker: Ryan Elias, John McKee, Harry Thomas, George Roberts

    While Elias is one of Wales’ best in this position, there isn’t a lot of experience backing him up, and certainly not enough to compensate for the loss of Marnus van der Merwe. Harry Thomas looks solid for his age, but with Elias being in the Wales setup, someone will need to step up to claim that 16 jersey. John McKee could be one to watch, though. 6/10

    Tighthead Prop: Henry Thomas, Archer Holz, Harri O’Conner, Gabe Hawley, Jac Pritchard

    Thomas started well, but Holz has kind of usurped him in the 3 jersey. That kind of competition is useful, while Hawley and Pritchard have each been tipped for a breakthrough, but the Scarlets’ tightheads tended to blow hot and cold last season. When they click, however, the scrum can be a real strength. 7.5/10

    Locks: Sam Lousi, Will Evans, Jac Price, Harvey Cuckson, Alex Groves, Tom Allen

    4/6 of these names have just been signed, so take your pick as to who starts alongside Lousi. Will Evans looks a real prospect, with his powerful carrying being a real standout in Wales, while Tom Allen should be helpful when he joins after the NPC. Still, despite the numbers, there is very little here in terms of high-end experience, so there’s no telling how well this second-row will click together. 6/10

    Back Row: Taine Plumtree, Josh Macleod, Fletcher Anderson, Cullen Grace, Dan Davis, Tristan Davies, Dom Kossuth

    Discipline aside, Plumtree and Macleod are very good at their job, but Anderson was the real star of last season, giving the Scarlets a very effective gainline carrier to balance out their backrow. He’ll be aided by Cullen Grace, who’s injury problems have kept him out of the All Blacks picture but should fit nicely into this setup. They’ve got good backup, though injuries and Plumtree and Macleod’s relevant status in the international system may hold them back. 8/10

    Scrum-Half: Gareth Davies, Dane Blacker, Archie Hughes

    Despite retiring from international rugby, Gareth Davies remains one of the URC’s most capable scrum-halves. Initially, the Scarlets struggled in his absence, but Blacker and Hughes came a long way and were able to steady the Scarlets system. With all three of them, the Scarlets’ ruck speed is well equipped to utilise their many ball-in-hand threats. 8.5/10

    Fly-Half: Sam Costelow, Gareth Anscombe, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Elis Price

    Costelow needed support here; Joe Hawkins was signed to act as a second-choice fly-half, but he fell short on the game-management front that the West Walians desperately needed. Gareth Anscombe, however, gives them a very experienced option who should be more than comfortable keeping their attack moving, while Carwyn Leggatt-Jones made the most of his first season, and should get even better with Anscombe’s guidance. 9/10

    Centres: Joe Hawkins, Eddie James, Johnny Williams, Joe Roberts, Macs Page, Ioan Nicholas

    Great depth; compared to the other Welsh regions, the Scarlets have plenty of options even with James and Hawkins on Wales duty. While Johnny Williams fell off considerably from the previous year, Roberts and Page continued to show their value on attack, and it’s rare that a region has 5 players all equally capable of starting a high-intensity game without looking out of place. 8.5/10

    Wing: Ellis Mee, Callum Wooley, Jac Davies, Iori Badham

    With Tom Rogers leaving and a general lack of distinction between wings and fullbacks, I’ve had to guess who’s playing where. Ellis Mee will definitely be on one wing when not on international duty, while Macs Page and Joe Roberts can also cover here. Woolley is one to watch, though, as he’s being hyped up as such, though the lack of experience might hurt them. 8/10

    Fullback: Blair Murray, Ioan Jones, Isaac Murray-Macgregor

    Looks good, with Blair Murray remaining one of the URCs most exciting attackers and Ioan Jones covering him well. Murray-Macgregor should be one to watch, especially as Wales are short on out-and-out fullbacks. As with a lot of the Scarlets’ positions, this is a young group with a lot of potential, but not one with a particularly wide portfolio. 7/10

    Overall: 76

    There’s definitely potential here, but with some early-season injuries, the real question is how well the Scarlets’ new signings integrate themselves into their attack system. With plenty of instability off the field, it wouldn’t be their fault if the season gets off to a slow start, but at their best, the Scarlets can be a tough team to deal with given their ability to create and exploit chaos. 

    Strongest Team: Domachowski, Elias, Holz, Evans, Lousi, Plumtree, Macleod, Anderson, Davies, Costelow, Mee, Hawkins, James, Page, Murray

    McKee, Mathias, Thomas, Allen, Grace, Blacker, Anscombe, Roberts

  • Ospreys Depth Ranking & Preview – URC 2026-27

    Ospreys Depth Ranking & Preview – URC 2026-27

    While they enjoyed a relatively strong season in terms of performance, it’s fair to say the Ospreys have not had the most stable year. Facing two back-to-back extinction threats as the WRU look to rebuild Welsh Rugby, the Ospreys have nonetheless managed to fend off the obvious baggage that comes with such a situation to claim the Welsh Shield and put in an admirable, if not extraordinary, showing.

    This year will be an even greater trial by fire, as the loss of two of Welsh Rugby’s few world-class talents in Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake will leave the Neath-Swansea squad with a serious rebuild on their hands. Jack Walsh’s departure also depletes their secondary leadership options, with Sam Parry and Owen Watkin now commanding a new-look Ospreys side at a new-look St. Helens ground. Still, given their less-than-desirable circumstances, they’ve recruited well to give themselves a line-of-sight at the playoffs.

    Loosehead Prop: Gareth Thomas, Steffan Thomas, Garyn Phillips, Cam Jones

    The Ospreys generally place much more emphasis on their front-row than the other Welsh regions. It helps, then, that their props are some of the best in Wales. Gareth Thomas has struggled in recent campaigns, but is a seasoned Wales international with a fully loaded skillset, while his cousin Steffan really upped his game at scrumtime last season. Garyn Phillips and Cam Jones offer a bit more around the park, and could potentially develop into great internationals. 8.5/10

    Hooker: Sam Parry, Lewis Lloyd, Efan Daniel, Ethan Lewis

    Losing Lake is tough both on and off the pitch. Parry has generally done well in his absence, and his new captaincy shows his value to the team, though the younger duo of Lloyd and Daniel will want to up their game. Lloyd has looked promising so far, but the Ospreys’ lineout left much to be desired last season, so they’ve got some work to do here. 6.5/10

    Tighthead Prop: Tom Botha, Ben Warren, Rhys Henry, Kian Hire, Math Iorwerth-Scott

    For how poor Wales’ tighthead stocks have been in recent years, it’s wild that the Ospreys’ only capped tighthead has only just broken through. While the other regions like their props to do more work around the field, the Ospreys’ props, like veteran Botha and underrated Rhys Henry, are destructive scrummagers who earn far more scrum penalties than their rivals’ counterparts. Warren is more of an around the park option, but hasn’t looked out of place against international opposition, while Hire and Iorwerth-Scott look primed for breakthroughs at some point. 8.5/10

    Locks: Rhys Davies, Ryan Smith, Huw Owen-Sutton, Lewis Jones, Ben Roberts

    The lock stocks have taken a real hit, with Adam Beard and James Fender departing over the past two seasons. Luckily, Ryan Smith has really settled in over the past year, and has formed a solid partnership with Rhys Davies. But while James Ratti can cover the second row, there’s a considerable experience gulf after that, which could be an issue if Davies earns more Wales honours. 7/10

    Back Row: Harri Deaves, Ross Moriarty, Liam Wright, James Ratti, Morgan Morris, Morgan Morse, Gwilym Evans

    Jac Morgan may be irreplaceable, but the signing of Liam Wright should help lessen the blow to what is comfortably one of the Ospreys’ strongest areas. The Australian brings a similar workrate on both sides of the ball, offering an extra lineout option and leadership, and should become a staple of the backrow. Deaves also really upped his game last season, and should offer strong competition for the 7 jersey, while Morris and Morse give them depth at 8 too. With none of them being active in the Wales setup at the moment (despite being good enough), they should be available all season; a big boost relative to their opponents. 9/10

    Scrum-Half: Reuben Morgan-Williams, Kieran Hardy, Luke Davies, Harri Williams

    RMW and Hardy being two of the best scrum-halves in Wales is sort of a double-edged sword; while strong, they are both active in the Wales setup and while Davies is decent, a more powerful third option might have helped. Still, for the majority of the season, the Ospreys have two well-rounded threats who are just as comfortably sniping for opportunities as they are unlocking defences for their teammates. 7.5/10

    Fly-Half: Dan Edwards, Lawson Creighton, Harri Wilde

    Dan Edwards is one of the stronger fly-halves in the URC, but with Jack Walsh predominantly playing fullback, depth in the position has been an issue. Hopefully Creighton and Wilde will take the pressure off when Edwards is on international duty, though the former isn’t typically a goal-kicker. They play a more up-tempo game than the region’s other fly-halves, and Creighton should make a good substitute for Walsh’s playmaking if deployed at fullback. 7/10

    Centre: Kieran Williams, Owen Watkin, Laleki Foketi, Evardi Boshoff

    Foketi is a great signing who buffs what was otherwise a fairly shallow position for the Ospreys, though it’ll be interesting to see where he plays if Watkin is captain. Williams is a powerful carrying threat, and Boshoff’s defensive work makes him a good substitute for Watkin, so there’s plenty of options available here. Dan John can also cover as a playmaker, though they may not need him unless there are injuries. 8/10

    Wing: Keelan Giles, Marika Koroibete, Harri Houston, Luke Morgan

    Tom Rogers may want to play fullback, but Koroibete offers a great replacement for Dan Kasende if so. His powers haven’t waned as much as one might expect for a 34 year old winger, and his power game should compliment Keelan Giles’ agility well. Their secondary options are less destructive, but have covered well in the past, so this season should be no different. 8.5/10

    Fullback: Tom Rogers, Dan John, Iestyn Hopkins

    If he chooses to commit to the 15 jersey, Rogers should help give the Ospreys a very effective aerial game, with his international-level skillset setting him apart from the other options. Dan John is more of a utility back, but will benefit from more gametime while Iestyn Hopkins enjoyed a breakthrough season last year and offers another option out wide. It’s probably between Rogers and Creighton, depending on how the Ospreys want to play, but they should have plenty of options. 8/10

    Overall Score: 79

    For the Ospreys, playoffs are a real possibility, but they’ll need to manage consistency throughout the season. They’ve lost the bulk of their leadership within the group, and you feel as though some badly-timed injuries could be costly to their structure, but Mark Jones has done an incredible job of balancing the ship with his signings. If not for the threat posed by the WRU, there would be a real sense of optimism across the board, as this is genuinely a dangerous team.

    Strongest Team: G Thomas, Parry, Botha, Davies, Smith, Wright, Deaves, Morris, Morgan-Williams, Edwards, Giles, Williams, Watkin, Koroibete, Rogers

    Lloyd, S Thomas, Warren, Ratti, Morse, Hardy, Creighton, Foketi

  • Dragons RFC Depth Chart & Preview – URC 2026-27

    Dragons RFC Depth Chart & Preview – URC 2026-27

    After entering a new era at the club and trying to lift themselves off the ground floor of the URC, the Dragons… didn’t get that far on paper, but it certainly felt like a complete overhaul compared to the side that struggled through the previous season. Filo Tiatia completely rejuvenated the struggling men of Gwent, and his efforts have been rewarded by the faith of the WRU despite calls for their abandonment. With a solid squad of young up-and-comers and seasoned stalwarts, the Dragons haven’t felt much need to change their squad, as they continue to build cohesion and develop their playing style.

    That said, they still finished 15th. Whether or not they performed better overall than the Scarlets is debatable, but their success came primarily from Europe, not the URC. Compared to Cardiff, who also haven’t changed personnel much, the Dragons have had more significant losses to replace and have a notably lower floor and ceiling in terms of performance. Their goal is to escape the bottom 4 and scare some of the stronger sides in Rodney Parade, where they’ve declared their intention to create a fortress. Playoff contention would be nice, but it’s still a big ask. That humility disguises what could be a genuine underdog side this season, though, so writing them off would be a bold call.

    Loosehead Prop: Wyn Jones, Rodrigo Martinez, Rhodri Jones, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Jordan Morris

    Wyn Jones and Rhodri Jones have decades of rugby experience between them, helping to bolster what is otherwise far from a dominant pack. Rodrigo Martinez seems to be somewhere on the Pumas radar, but it feels weird to call him an “international” compared to the Lions tourist partnering him. Reasonably strong, but no URC side should be scared here. 7/10

    Hooker: Brodie Coghlan, Elliot Dee, Oli Burrows, Sam Scarfe

    The Dragons have the best hooker stocks of the Welsh teams, hands down. Dee has over 50 Wales caps and despite his injury problems, is one of the safest pairs of hands in Wales at 2. Coghlan’s physicality and workrate will probably earn him the starting spot, but the quality of both together is hard to match. Even under that, Burrows showed his value when both were unavailable, and was an underdog for Six Nations selection. They may not have the best lineout stats in the URC, but combined with their locks (more on that later), the lineout is a real strength for the Dragons. 8.5/10

    Tighthead Prop: Dillon Lewis, Robert Hunt, Christian Coleman

    Sure would’ve been nice to keep Cebo Dlamini, but with all three tightheads healthy, this is reasonably strong. Lewis’ renewed Wales stocks might hurt them a little, as his work around the field is tough to replace, but Hunt’s South African muscle makes him the stronger scrummager, while Coleman has been identified as a real prospect (at least by Wales standards). One more tighthead would help, though. 7/10

    Locks: Ben Carter, Seb Davies, Levi Douglas, Matthew Screech, Barny Langton-Cryer

    The Dragons’ other real strength. Carter forms the Wales lock partnership with Dafydd Jenkins for a reason; his defensive work is among the best in the league, and he can manage a great lineout with Seb Davies alongside him. Levi Douglas is more of a powerful carrier & enforcer, while the evergreen Matthew Screech has over 200 caps of experience; not bad for a 4th choice pick, backed by both Ryan Woodman and Shane Lewis-Hughes as emergency options. Probably the best stocks of the Welsh regions. 8.5/10

    Back Row: Ryan Woodman, Thomas Young, Harrison Keddie, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harri Beddall, Terrell Peita

    Faced with the unachievable task of replacing Aaron Wainwright, Terrell Peita looks to contend for the number 8 jersey with Harrison Keddie, while Woodman and Lewis-Hughes are strong lineout options and Young and Beddall are tackle machines. There’s a clear structure for how the Dragons want to use their backrow, and it’s been one of their strengths in recent seasons. At the same time, while Woodman and Keddie have piqued Tandy’s interest of late, the quality of options here doesn’t quite measure up to their rivals. 7/10

    Scrum-Half: Rhodri Williams, Ere Enari, Che Hope, Morgan Lloyd

    Hope was one of the key breakthroughs for the Dragons last season, and it wouldn’t be too optimistic to have expected him to earn a Wales call-up if not for injury. Whether he leads ahead of Rhodri Williams or new signing Ere Enari is to be seen, however, as the Dragons are well covered in this area. Rhodri has been one of the Dragons’ stronger servants before Tiatia came in, while Enari was part of a very strong Hurricanes side and is probably the most likely of the trio to score some wild tries. 7.5/10

    Fly-Half: Tinus de Beer, Cai Evans, Jac Lloyd, Harri Ford

    Angus O’Brien can cover here too, but it suits the team better when he’s at fullback. Tinus de Beer was one of the better signings of last season, as his physicality on defence proved essential; definitely one of the most underrated players in the league. Beneath him, though, there isn’t much in the way of experience, which could be a concern. 6/10

    Centres: Aneurin Owen, Fetuli Paea, Harri Ackerman, Joe Westwood

    More settled here than last season. Owen has always been one of the more underrated centres in Welsh Rugby, but took a real step-up last season, especially in Europe. He should be even better this season with one of the two Tongan internationals outside him. Still, it feels like they’re rather short on numbers here. 7/10

    Wings: Rio Dyer, Fine Inisi, Jared Rosser, Anzelo Tuitavuki, Caio Parry, Harry Rees-Weldon

    As is typical of Welsh rugby, the Dragons aren’t lost for quality on wing. Dyer brings international experience, while Tuitavuki and Inisi will likely compete for the other wing spot. Rosser is quite underrated too, while Parry and Rees-Weldon are interesting young prospects. The other Welsh regions have more established options, but there could be some players to watch. 7.5/10

    Fullback: Angus O’Brien, Huw Anderson, David Richards

    Strong options here. Co-captain O’Brien does more direct game-management than most fullbacks, and has been progressively improving his game even when his team has struggled. Anderson and Richards offer versatility and more pace, both of them being viable options on the wing as well. With O’Brien taking up most of the minutes, it’s questionable how the Dragons will adapt if he’s selected for Wales given how integral he is to the side. 7/10

    Overall: 73

    The Dragons have only really started to find their feet after a poor 2024-25 season. But all things considered, they’ve rebuilt well. There’s a good balance of experience and youth, several strong league players like Dyer, O’Brien, and Coghlan, and a well-defined playstyle that suits their strengths. There’s a genuine sense of optimism around where this team can go under Tiatia, even if it’s unlikely to be all that far in the short term.

    Strongest Team: Martinez, Coghlan, Lewis, Carter, Davies, Woodman, Young, Peita, Enari, de Beer, Dyer, Owen, Inisi, Tuitavuki, O’Brien

    Dee, W Jones, Hunt, Douglas, Keddie, Hope, Richards, Paea

  • Cardiff Rugby Depth Ranking and Preview – URC 2026-27

    Cardiff Rugby Depth Ranking and Preview – URC 2026-27

    While the title seems to change hands every season, the capital side is the current standard-bearer for Welsh Rugby, having made 6th in the standings and achieving the best performance by any Welsh region in the current URC format. Compared to the Scarlets and Ospreys, Cardiff are achieving some level of consistency after their similarly impressive showing last season, and even though Matt Sherratt has left for Wales, Corniel van Zyl has done well to keep Cardiff playing to their strengths.

    That said, there’s no guarantee Cardiff will hold onto their standard from last season, especially with teams like Benetton and Ulster wanting to bounce back into the top 8. Cardiff have been very conservative with signings this season, focusing on retaining their top talent and bolstering their high-end depth in key positions. This should result in a settled and confident Cardiff side at home, though improvements will likely need to come on the pitch; Cardiff’s attack and setpiece faced several roadblocks last season, so new attack coach Daniel Bowden will need to earn his keep.

    Loosehead Prop: Rhys Barratt, Danny Southworth, Scott Sio, Joe Cowell

    One of Cardiff’s stronger areas on paper. Barratt and Southworth have come a long way, and Steve Tandy has taken notice of their skills around the park. The departure of Corey Domachowski takes a bit of size from the already quite light Cardiff front row, but the experience of Scott Sio should more than level the playing field. Exeter demolished Cardiff’s scrum last season, so Sio should help the younger props develop international-level skills. 8/10

    Hooker: Liam Belcher, Evan Lloyd, Dafydd Hughes, Tom Howe

    Captain Belcher seems to be in favour with Tandy, so the other hookers will really have to prove strong starting options in his absence. Lloyd’s dynamism and physicality are notable, but his fundamentals have lacked in the past. Tom Howe could be a breakthrough player this season, given his strong performances for the U20s, but either way, Cardiff’s lineout has been struggling at around 84% success for the past few seasons, near the bottom of the URC. Something needs to be fixed. 6.5/10

    Tighthead Prop: Kieron Assiratti, Javan Sebastian, Sam Wainwright

    Assiratti is a strong carrier, but his injury problems kept getting Cardiff into trouble at scrum time, and he was tied for most penalties conceded last season. Meanwhile, Javan Sebastian was arguably signing of the season for the Blue and Blacks, while Tandy seems to like Sam Wainwright for a reason. Has constantly been one of the region’s weakest areas, but doesn’t seem far off a strength once the scrum improves. 6/10

    Locks: Josh McNally, Teddy Williams, Rory Thornton, George Nott, Tom Cottle, Tom Manz

    Losing Teddy Williams for most of the season really showed how weak Cardiff are here; McNally and Thornton are solid enforcers and Nott brings some agility, but there aren’t many here who can really manage their lineout or carry to the same extent. Tom Manz should help bolster the numbers for now, but missing out on Christ Tshiunza should hurt. 7/10

    Back Row: Alex Mann, James Botham, Taulupe Faletau, Taine Basham, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence, Semisi Paea, Lucas de la Rua

    Compared to the other forwards, this is somewhere Cardiff are far from weak. Mann and Botham are currently fighting over the Wales 6 jersey for good reason, but even the uncapped Dan Thomas is a real quality option at 7, generating turnovers from seemingly nowhere. Faletau’s injury problems are well-documented, but Basham and Lawrence are strong alternatives at 8, while new signing Semisi Paea should bring some more power. All of these guys have an exceptional work rate and offer Cardiff a real engine on defence. 9/10

    Scrum-Half: Aled Davies, Johan Mulder, Ellis Bevan

    Cardiff’s scrum-halves are more focused on strong kicking than sniping for opportunities. This has suited them well so far, as Davies and Mulder boast some of the best kicking stats of the URC’s scrum halves, while Bevan prefers to play out wide when he can. Mulder is a strong force in contact too, winning only 5 turnovers less than the aforementioned Dan Thomas (13 total, 11th overall in the URC and probably several spaces higher than most of the scrum halves). Don’t expect them to score a lot, though. 7/10

    Fly Half: Jarrod Evans, Callum Sheedy, Ioan Lloyd, Lloyd Lucas

    Jarrod is back, and willing to bring a more direct approach than Callum Sheedy in a direct shoot-out for the 10 jersey. I didn’t know who would start between Sheedy and Lloyd last season, and I’m even less sure now; Sheedy had largely fixed his goal-kicking and was one of Cardiff’s key playmakers, so Jarrod’s inclusion inflates what was already a fairly strong area for Cardiff. Luckily, he and Lloyd can cover 12 and 15 just fine, so Cardiff should be able to make use of all their quality here, bolstered by Ben Thomas and Jacob Beetham as emergency options. 9/10

    Centres: Ben Thomas, Harri Millard, Steffan Emanuel, Le Roux Malan, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Elijah Evans

    Not as deep as it looks on paper, as the latter two are academy players, Emanuel has just turned 20, and Malan has just signed. Still, Thomas and Millard make a more than serviceable midfield combo, and Emanuel’s strong performance for the U20s could see him usurp one of them. Jarrod is a decent 12 too, though Grady’s shift to the wing leaves them short on size. 7.5/10

    Wings: Josh Adams, Mason Grady, Tom Bowen, Iwan Stephens, Theo Cabango, Rhys Cummings

    Adams and Grady are firmly in Wales contention, so the rest should get a fair amount of gametime. This is another of Cardiff’s stronger areas, filled with small and agile wingers with serious pace. Bowen was the real star last season, and should probably start as many games as the two internationals, but Stephens and Cabango are serious athletes too, giving Cardiff a lot of quality to finish out wide. Providing they can win the high ball (given 3 of these guys are under 5’10’’), Cardiff are under no threat here. 9/10

    Fullback: Cameron Winnett, Jacob Beetham, Matty Young

    With Leigh Halfpenny retreating to the coaching box, these three youngsters have a very experienced mentor to help improve their game. Winnett is a deadly counterattacker while Beetham’s spent a lot of time on the wing, but hasn’t looked out of place given Cardiff’s quality there. Either could be in a Wales squad too, while Matty Young looked good against Stade Francais. 8/10

    Overall Score: 77

    Cardiff haven’t needed to change much, and they haven’t. The bigger questions are about their players’ form rather than their depth, and how well they may handle their top talent leaving for international duty. Evans’ recall and Bowden’s appointment points to a Cardiff looking to reignite their attack (and to be fair, Cardiff are among the URC’s weakest attacking sides despite their successes), so some adjustments are likely to be made to their first-choice team, but overall, it’d be bold to bet against them being the strongest Welsh region this time around.

    Strongest Team: Sio, Belcher, Assiratti, McNally, Williams, Mann, D Thomas, Basham, Mulder, Sheedy, Adams, B Thomas, Millard, Grady, Winnett

    Lloyd, Barratt, Sebastian, Thornton, Botham, Davies, Evans, Bowen

  • Wales vs South Africa Review – Nations Championship 2026

    Wales vs South Africa Review – Nations Championship 2026

    South Africa 43 – 0 Wales

    Predictably, the Springboks were much better than Wales. Because they are. For much of the game, Wales were on the back foot trying to hold off a relentless set of carries not dissimilar to the Argentinian onslaught of the previous week. A lesser team would’ve retreated into a shell of nihilism against a seemingly unstoppable force, but credit to Wales for keeping their heads in the game for 80 minutes. Even by the end, down over 30 points and scoreless, Wales were never timid or doubtful on either side of the ball, forcing their world-class opponents to take risks that didn’t necessarily pay off. Compared to their 73-0 demolition last year, Wales clearly had a plan to counter the Boks weapons, and they generally worked well; to be clear, the Boks scored similarly against England and Scotland, who are considerably more well-equipped to strike back than Wales.

    Still, the key problem with Wales’ performance can’t be ignored; yet another scoreless game, even against a team as potent as South Africa, can’t really be accepted as a “win”. The positives illustrate how far Wales have come, but it’s been almost a year since Tandy took charge, so you’d expect more than a mentality shift. The scrum went backwards at a rate of knots, the attack was blunt and felt futile in parts, and Wales had no real weapons to challenge a team of players who know how to win games at the highest level. Even when the Boks were clumsy and ill-disciplined, Wales couldn’t capitalise.

    Wales’ broader defence also hasn’t been great, though there have been slow improvements over the course of the campaign. Not statistically; they’re still only tackling 83% of the time, but that statistics hides the progressively improving scale of their opposition, while their scramble defence remains as strong as ever. The good news is that these weaknesses are tangible and fixable, the issue is that Wales haven’t much time to improve on them to reach the top tiers before the World Cup. The hope is that the second block of fixtures at home in the Principality will show a more cohesive, clinical Wales, without the travel stress of the away fixtures.

    Player Ratings

    1: Rhys Carré 4

    Lacks the agility of some of his comrades in defence, which showed with his 50/50 defensive record yet again. Held his own against the scrum, which otherwise got demolished, but couldn’t influence on attack either.

    2: Dewi Lake 5

    Played well for an injured man, though he was taken off a bit too early to make up for Wales’ mixed lineout. Traded blows with Malcolm Marx at the scrum, but there was only going to be one winner in the wider picture.

    3: Dillon Lewis 3

    The weak link; conceding 5 penalties is just an indefensible position, even against a scrum as potent as South Africa’s. Put up a much better fight around the park, stopping a try mostly on his own with a clutch turnover, but he’s not getting a higher score from that showing at the setpiece.

    4: Teddy Williams 4

    Weirdly quiet? He didn’t miss any tackles, but given how long he played, he only made 3. Did well in carrying, but for a player known for his workrate, you’d expect to see more of him

    5: Adam Beard 6

    His best game so far, as Beard’s physicality did a lot to help restrain the Boks’ maul and carries. Made 8 tackles, and generally did well to throw his weight around. Showed the value he can bring on his best days.

    6: Alex Mann 6

    A clumsy penalty aside, Mann did well to tackle everything in sight and cause some South African headaches. Missed a fair few tackles too, though, so falls behind some of his more consistent colleagues.

    7: Jac Morgan 7

    Did nothing wrong, just outmuscled a lot. Led the tackle count, as expected, though maybe could’ve brought some more turnovers at the ruck. Generally a consistent if generic showing from a world-class player.

    8: Aaron Wainwright 6

    On attack, very impressive, though the Boks were ready for his powerful carrying game. On defence, a lot less impressive, as he couldn’t translate that strength to hold back the Boks carriers.

    9: Tomos Williams 4

    Poor kicking and a fairly slow ruck ball against such a strong defensive team outlined Tomos’ difficult campaign. Like Argentina, he didn’t seem to know how to push the attack until other players gave him an opening, which is concerning for such an experienced player.

    10: Dan Edwards 5

    With Wales’ not insignificant opportunities in the 22, a goal kick for Edwards would’ve at least made the scoreline look nicer. Kicked better than his halfback partner and made some confident and clever attacking decisions, but his execution wasn’t consistent enough for them to matter.

    11: Ellis Mee 7

    Mee’s performance deserves extra context; being subbed into the side at the last minute and putting in a strong performance against the world champions should be commended, especially with his reliable aerial work. Continues to show real promise at this level, and looks increasingly comfortable with ball in hand; more so than any of Wales’ other backs.

    12: Ben Thomas 6

    Answered his critics well; this was one of his best international performances, though his defensive success rate still raises doubts. Constantly looked for work on both sides of the ball, and many of his created opportunities on attack didn’t fail because of his efforts. A far cry from the shy, inaccurate showings we’ve seen from him of late.

    13: Max Llewellyn 4

    I don’t really know how to rate Llewellyn, because most of his issues are similar to Eddie James’ where Wales don’t seem to have figured out how to use him. His defensive organisation wasn’t great though, and he shouldn’t be getting outshone by Ben Thomas on that front.

    14: Louis Rees-Zammit 4

    Very passive, unlike Ellis Mee and Joash Adams. Can be dangerous with the ball in hand, but this was the game for him to show his defensive skillset. He didn’t.

    15: Blair Murray 4

    Very mixed, as he actually held his own in the air, and seems to have quietened that Kryptonite factor, but his defence wasn’t the best. He was regularly missing when the Boks broke the line, and the backline was largely an uncoordinated string of players he should’ve martialed better.

    BENCH

    16: Ryan Elias 6

    Actually very good. Though his first missed tackle led to a Springbok try, Elias did well to front up physically against such opposition, with a considerable haul of carries and tackles relative to his team. His discipline and lineout throwing was off the mark, though.

    17: Nicky Smith 4

    Didn’t really help the scrum much, but put in a better shift around the park than the earlier props.

    18: Ben Warren 3

    A clumsy tackle led to a yellow card at an inconvenient time, letting the Boks close out the game without much resistance.

    19: Freddie Thomas N/A

    Barely noticeable off the bench

    20: Tommy Reffell 3

    Not doing his future Wales chances much favour; after being controversially dropped by Tandy, Reffell barely got any work done off the bench, not that he was alone in that regard.

    21: James Botham 6

    As per usual, threw himself across the field with reckless abandon, and easily the best of Wales’ bench. Couldn’t compete with Paul de Villiers on his own, but was far less passive than some of his compatriots towards the end of the contest.

    22: Reuben Morgan-Williams N/A

    Has potential, but needs to be used more by Tandy. Kept Wales’ ball moving well.

    23: Joe Hawkins 6

    Playing in a less familiar 13 jersey after Max Llewellyn’s injury, Hawkins put in a solid performance on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately turned over on an otherwise promising carry, and didn’t get much more opportunity to control the game.

    Wales Nations Championship 2026 Overall Review

    On paper, Wales have achieved what they set out to do: beating the Barbarians with a lot of 2nd choice and uncapped players, comfortably handling Fiji, and putting in determined performances against Argentina and South Africa. They finished 11th in the world rankings; where they started, but with the gap closed by Fiji and Italy’s abysmal winless showings. 

    That said, the win against Italy was supposed to be a benchmark of Wales’ quality going into future contests. Since then, Wales seem to have gone backwards on a few fronts; they genuinely can’t seem to break lines through any avenues beyond the pure power of Carré and Wainwright, their backline lacks purpose and cohesion, and their first line of defence is mostly non-existent, relying on the quick reflexes and athleticism of their forwards to scramble defence. The setpiece is strong, but not dominant enough to be a reliable option to gain ground. Their playmaking fluctuates between unimaginative in strategy and inconsistent in execution. And with all the legitimate quality and promise a lot of players have shown this season, only about half the starting 15 has truly been locked down if they were to play a World Cup match tomorrow.

    Needless to say, Tandy’s work in rebuilding the national side is not done. The team should be commended for how far they’ve come, and sides from both inside and outside Welsh Rugby believe they are on the right path, but it goes without saying that it hasn’t been smooth sailing. There remain multiple significant questions that will need to be answered before they can start to win games against elite opposition. 

    Key Issues for the 2nd Block:

    1. Who starts at 12: Eddie James has been one of Wales’ most consistent performers at 13, and that’s slowly becoming his most played position at club level too. But is he better utilised at 12, where he could make more touches, more tackles, and draw in defenders to let Wales exploit wider channels? Joe Hawkins is certainly an international player for the future, but he’s struggled to offer the same go-forward in attack as his Scarlets teammate. Both the regional and national team need to work together to determine how both players are best utilised.
    2. Who starts at 10: This looked to be a question Wales had solved by the time Tandy took over, but Dan Edwards still hasn’t developed into a complete international. Sam Costelow holds his own as a player, offering more defence and game control, and may end up offering better synergy with James at 12. Jarrod Evans and Callum Sheedy at Cardiff will also look to break through in time for the World Cup.
    3. Back Three: Ellis Mee continues to grow every campaign, but as one of Wales’ deepest positions, he faces notable competition from Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit, both of whom bring their own strengths. Rio Dyer and Mason Grady will also try to break into a starting lineup, as will Tom Rogers and Gabriel Hamer-Webb. That’s not even getting into fullback Blair Murray is one of Wales’ most exciting attackers, but his aerial weaknesses necessitate the conversation of whether he is the best choice. Angus O’Brien and Cameron Winnett, who are among their clubs most reliable players, will look to replace him.
    4. Composition of the back row: Jac Morgan and Aaron Wainwright aside, much discussion remains about how to build from there. Alex Mann is a great tackle machine and lineout taker, but does he offer enough go-forward in attack, or would Ryan Woodman’s bulk be more valuable? The 8 jersey also seems entirely contingent on Wainwright’s availability, as between Morse, Kane James, and Olly Cracknell, neither have really established themselves as a backup. Again, not a position where Wales lack quality, but questions will be asked about the direction taken.
    5. Coaching Setup: I think this is more trouble than it’s worth, given the WRU’s complete failure to establish a complete coaching setup a whole year after Gatland’s departure, but Matt Sherratt and Peter Murchie’s impact on the side isn’t entirely clear. The latter can largely be excused due to a lack of time, but Wales need to be scoring more often than 4 times a game, to say nothing of their limited versatility in attack. Opposing coaches won’t wait for Wales to develop new weapons; they’ll counter their existing plans if new ones aren’t worked on.

    Overall, it’s hard to quantify Wales’ success by the end of this campaign, as they haven’t really gone anywhere since the Italy victory. They’re at a similar level to Italy, Fiji, and Japan, and have beaten all three this season, but as other results have shown, there is a gap between this group and the next one, and Wales have a lot to do before they can really close it. Then again, Eddie Jones has been in charge of Japan for three years, and only now have they started racking up consistent performances against other tier 1 opposition, so as long as Wales keep reflecting, reviewing, and improving, that time will come. 

  • Wales vs Argentina Review – Nations Championship 2026

    Wales vs Argentina Review – Nations Championship 2026

    Argentina 35 – 21 Wales

    The win streak is over. While Wales were valiant in their performance and made the Pumas work for it (at least, for most of the contest), Argentina were simply too strong; too coordinated, too physical, and too confident in their gameplan. They gained control over the matchup in the first half, and outside of some key moments, didn’t really let go of it. Wales needed to be conservative and restrain the Argentinian machine; instead they fed right into it, most of their risk-takes backfiring directly into their opponents’ hands.

    If anything really undid Wales, it was their general structure. Or rather, the overall lack of it; Sherratt and Murchie’s plans to undo the Argentinian gameplan weren’t clear at any point in the match, beyond the general strengths the Wales team have shown this year that we already knew about (close-range carrying tries & defensive workrate). This made them largely predictable against a world-class Argentinian defence fronted by Marcos Kremer, and they simply had no answer to a best-ever showing by Joaquin Oviedo, who barrelled clean through 6 defenders and made 98 meters all on his own. There aren’t new threats at this level, but Wales simply didn’t know how to deal with them.

    But if anything is a testament to how far Wales have come, it’s their sheer resilience under that level of pressure. After Ben Warren powered through a gap for his first international try, the team still looked fired up for a comeback that would’ve been hard for most teams to believe in. When Wales had possession, they looked genuinely threatening, and seemed to find their feet in gaining ground and slowly wearing down their opponents. But by that point, it wasn’t enough.

    Overall, this felt like a step back in overall performance, though Wales can take confidence in how far they’ve come; they’ve closed the margin of defeat from 24 to 14 points, almost half, and have shown over the past few weeks that they can genuinely compete at this level. Argentina are simply much further along that journey.

    Player Ratings:

    1: Rhys Carré 6

    Defensively was 50/50, missing a good number of tackles. Then again, the scrum was solid against a very big Argentinian pack, and claimed one of his typical close-range tries. Always a threat with ball in hand.

    2: Dewi Lake 8

    Wales’ best player. Wales’ lineout and maul were their biggest strengths going in, and Lake hit his darts and put in a great effort on both sides of the ball. That injury was very unfortunately timed, but hopefully he’ll be available for South Africa, as he’ll be needed.

    3: Dillon Lewis 7

    His best performance so far. Lewis showed his point of difference over the other tightheads with his work around the field, making 10 tackles but only 1 carry. Still, the scrum was largely solid, so he appears to have tightened that area of his game, and should enjoy more appearances at this level.

    4: Ben Carter 5

    One of his weaker performances, though he still managed the lineout well. Carter always puts in a big shift, but missed a couple tackles and didn’t really organise Wales’ defence up front, as Oviedo and Wenger got mileage out all their carries. Got taken off when Argentina had full control.

    5: Adam Beard 5

    Generally looked cleaner than last week, but Beard is still prone to some strange errors, one time handing the ball back to Argentina right after winning a turnover. He’s at least improved over past performances, making more carries and tackles, and has contributed to a powerful maul and setpiece.

    6: James Botham 7

    Wales’ hardest worker over 80 minutes, and looked completely shattered by the end of the game as a result. 15 tackles and 17 carries, constantly annoying Argentinians with his efforts. If he builds on that next week, he could be a real frustration to Rassie Erasmus.

    7: Jac Morgan 7

    Unsurprisingly. Jac was one of Wales’ best as he made more tackles than anyone else on the pitch, and his leadership helped rally the side later on into the game. The backrow put in a strong shift overall, they just weren’t matching the physicality of Kremer and Oviedo, but Jac epitomised Wales’ valiant efforts on defence.

    8: Aaron Wainwright 5

    Not a bad game, but this wasn’t really a match for Wainwright to shine. Argentina firmly won the physical battle, and with them having the majority possession, Oviedo was the one making the powerful carries. On defence, Waino struggled a lot to contain them, missing 3 tackles, and got replaced near the 60 minute mark.

    9: Tomos Williams 4

    This was a bad game for Wales’ midfield, as the team completely lacked creativity or a clear path forward beyond Argentina’s attack. Of the bunch, Tomos has the weakest excuse, as he captains an exciting attacking side every week, but he was clearly struggling against the relentless onslaught and was forced onto defence a lot.

    10: Sam Costelow 4

    Also not great. Albornoz is several steps ahead of Costelow as a player, although Edwards likely wouldn’t have fared much better. His ability to spot opportunities was clear, but his execution fell short of the mark at times. On defence, he actually managed quite well, though he missed 3 tackles and couldn’t handle Justo Piccaro much at all.

    11: Josh Adams 5

    Mostly invisible, though he got a lot more work done in the second half. Probably should’ve been replaced over Ellis Mee, as he didn’t influence much on attack despite making 8 carries.

    12: Joe Hawkins 4

    Hawkins has had a good run in the 12 jersey so far, but the benefit of having a playmaking 12 is to bolster the creativity in attack. Hawkins got some nice change out of his 12 successful carries, but otherwise there wasn’t much else he could do, and he was completely overpowered on defence.

    13: Eddie James 5

    The pick of the midfielders, if only because he was underutilised rather than poor. Only managed 4 tackles and 5 carries; stopped a try with one tackle, then was defeated out wide for the first try.

    14: Ellis Mee 6

    Stepped up under the high ball, and did well on defence to contain Mateo Carreras. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to bring much else before being replaced by Rees-Zammit. Still, his point of difference at this level is clear.

    15: Blair Murray 5

    Actually managed the high ball okay, though on defence he fell off a lot of tackles. Brought his usual energy on attack, but Argentina’s defence was well-equipped to handle him. 

    BENCH

    16: Ryan Elias 7

    With how good Lake was, Elias made for a great replacement. Strong on defence, ripping a ball from a carrier close to Wales’ line, he proved why he’s earned 50 caps for his country. If Lake is injured next week, expect him to start, and likely go deep into the game.

    17: Nicky Smith 6

    The scrum was generally less stable after the larger starting props left, though Smith did well to contain attackers around the park and keep the setpiece working.

    18: Ben Warren 7

    A great try for only his second cap; his carrying game looks solid at this level, similarly to Assiratti. Also held his own at scrum time, and has proven to Tandy he can cut it at this level.

    19: Teddy Williams 6

    Showed his test credentials by bringing real energy from the bench. Solid on both sides of the ball, though nothing outstanding

    20: Kane James 5

    Big energy on his debut, but it didn’t really get him anywhere against the much larger Kremer.

    21: Kieran Hardy N/A

    Ruck speed was quicker than Tomos’, but that wasn’t saying much, given 20% of Wales’ rucks took over 6 seconds.

    22: Max Llewellyn 5

    Not much he could do by the time he was brought on. Held up some carriers well and threw himself around physically.

    23: Louis Rees-Zammit 6

    Stepped up after a weak showing last week, making some good line breaks and chased the high balls well. Looked like a better fit for the gameplan.

    My Team for South Africa:

    1. Rhys Carré
    2. Dewi Lake
    3. Dillon Lewis
    4. Ben Carter
    5. Adam Beard
    6. Jac Morgan
    7. Tommy Reffell
    8. Aaron Wainwright
    9. Tomos Williams
    10. Dan Edwards
    11. Josh Adams
    12. Eddie James
    13. Max Llewellyn
    14. Louis Rees-Zammit
    15. Ellis Mee

    BENCH

    1. Ryan Elias
    2. Nicky Smith
    3. Ben Warren
    4. Teddy Williams
    5. Taine Plumtree
    6. James Botham
    7. Reuben Morgan-Williams
    8. Mason Grady

    If Argentina have the physical power to overwhelm Wales, South Africa will feel like an insurmountable obstacle. Issues like Wales’ awkward defence and attacking consistency aren’t really going to close the gap here; the reality is that no team knows how to beat this current Springboks structure, and Wales are the least experienced, coordinated, and successful team they’ll be facing. The good news is that since Rassie likes to announce his team early, Tandy will know roughly what he’ll be facing from minute 1, though any measure of “handling” South Africa will be a considerable achievement for Wales.

    Up front, there isn’t any clear avenue for change, as these are the combinations Tandy has stuck with for most of the campaign, and they’ve largely worked well. Maintaining setpiece discipline will be critical, and the lineout looks a far more winnable battle than the scrum, so Lake (or Elias if he’s still injured) and his pack will have to be at their best. There is a switch in the backrow, however, as a 6-2 split will work well to handle the physical challenge the Springboks will bring. If Tandy’s men are to hit the Springboks, they’ll need majority possession, so the dual-jackal threat of Morgan and Reffell will do well to earn back the ball on defence. Botham and Plumtree can then bring their greater dynamism off the bench, carrying hard into tired defenders and keeping the pace high.

    There’s a more considerable change in the midfield. Joe Hawkins is a great 12 and an international player, but it’s clear Wales have had issues using Eddie James to his full potential at 13. With a pack as physical as South Africa, size will matter, and while Hawkins isn’t small, this is a midfield combo based on size and strength. Llewellyn acts as a more agile foil, who can barge down walls or skip tackles, closer to James’ usual partners at the Scarlets. Also, Edwards has been selected over Costelow, although either makes a good case to start. Both have had fairly weak games, but Edwards is the less predictable player who’s more likely to catch the Boks offguard, which could create crucial counter-attacking opportunities.

    Out back, Blair Murray may be a solid fullback, but with Kurt-Lee Arendse, it’s unlikely he’ll see any mercy under the high ball. How well Vusi Moyo and Jaco Williams acclimate to international rugby is yet to be seen, but he’d already have enough on his plate. Ellis Mee has been moved there to better utilise his aerial skills, while Adams’ defence and Rees-Zammit’s pace can frustrate their opponents. As for the last bench spot, Hawkins is a consideration for his versatility, but to better use the resources around camp, this could be a solid test for Mason Grady’s power game, as he’s a fair bit bigger than the Boks’ wingers and should help gain crucial ground.

    To be realistic, there isn’t a clear path for Wales here; not that most teams typically fare much better. Scotland came close, but if they aren’t clinical enough to finish the job against the Boks, Wales will be fortunate to get close. The above gameplan is designed for chaos and physicality, trying to maintain control over the ball and hit the Springboks as hard as possible from all angles. Anything beyond the 0-73 destruction from last time is a plus, though a 30-point margin is more expected. This is a real test for what the team can do against the very best, and they should relish every moment.

  • Wales vs Fiji Review – Nations Championship 2026

    Wales vs Fiji Review – Nations Championship 2026

    Fiji 24 – Wales 39

    Cardiff City Stadium was transformed for the opening game of the Nations Championship, helping to compensate for the lack of a true Fijian home stadium with a brilliant showing of Fijian culture, helping to hype up the opposing players into a match many expected them to win regardless of venue. But Wales’ response was emphatic; leading for most of the game and answering one of the strongest attacks in World Rugby with grit, ferocity and clinical offence to secure back-to-back test victories for the first time under Tandy’s leadership.

    It can;t be stressed how important this win was for Welsh rugby; not only did this prove the Italian victory wasn’t a one-off, Wales were arguably even better as they restrained all of their opponents’ best attackers before responding with real weapons of their own. With a weak overall possession, Wales would’ve been forgiven for retreating into a shell of secure, practical rugby. Instead, they played with genuine confidence in their gameplan, perfectly tailored to exploit Fiji’s big weakness; consistent, sustained pressure over 80 minutes. With their opponents tired and low on ideas, it was only a matter of time before the half-time gap widened in Wales’ favour.

    That said, Wales do have some work-ons if they are to challenge Argentina and South Africa. While their defence was strong overall, conceding only three tries despite having 10% less possession, there were several moments where Wales lacked the control and foresight they will need to handle stronger opponents; though successful, Wales’ defensive efforts were based on determination and raw endurance rather than accuracy. 

    Overall, however, this is nothing less than a brilliant achievement for the team, progressively increasing the scale of opponents they can win against and improving upon their structure with every game. Strong (or at least, improved) showings against Argentina and South Africa will make for an excellent start to their first Nations Championship campaign.

    Player Ratings:

    1: Rhys Carré 8

    One of Wales’ best Six Nations players, and was just as strong here. The scrum was a much improved effort overall, and Carré can certainly claim accolades for his contributions on that front. His trademark try-scoring ability lead to a vital score after the break, too.

    2: Dewi Lake 8

    The lineout was less consistent, though that wasn’t really Lake’s fault, who made up for his efforts by bringing back the same rolling maul that brought him to worldwide recognition in 2024. Ran into some handling issues, but so did everyone, so his efforts up front take priority.

    3: Dillon Lewis 7

    Also gets points for the scrum, and helped add to that with a nice haul of 8 tackles, only missing one. Less impactful than Carré, but handled the massive Ernoi Mawi well. Should keep this jersey going forward.

    4: Ben Carter 8

    14 tackles, none missed. That speaks volumes alone to Carter’s defensive efforts, as Fiji couldn’t get past him no matter what they tried. Did well to control the lineout too, which was one of Wales’ strong points.

    5: Adam Beard 5

    Beard had a polarising game, overall. One the one hand, 13 tackles, multiple turnovers, and a strong setpiece speak volumes to how he physically bolstered Wales efforts, and those impacts were ultimately the reason Wales won. Then again, he also conceded more penalties than anyone, many of which were needless offside or foul play penalties he gained nothing from. Needs to tidy up his game.

    6: Alex Mann 6

    Probably his weakest performance so far, not that you can hold it against him with his consistency up until now. Mann had difficulty managing the Fijians’ physicality, as he got turned over on all three of his carries after going off early with a HIA. Could do with a break after that performance. 

    7: Jac Morgan 9

    Back to his best. Two tries, top of the tackle charts, consistently strong at the breakdown and one of the better carriers. Jac epitomised everything Wales did well, with few errors, though it took him a while to get into it. Once he found his feet, Fiji had a tough time dealing with him, and his workrate deservedly one him Man of the Match

    8: Aaron Wainwright 7

    Less dominant than he has been in recent performances. A strong carrying threat, but that wasn’t the best approach against a big Fijian side who quickly turned him over. Was clearly targeted and viewed as the prime threat, but he hung in there well.

    9: Tomos Williams 8

    The primary playmaker in this match, Tomos’ pass selection and kicking game got Wales out of trouble and into an attacking position. Very much an all-court game, though he obviously wasn’t going to stand up to the strongest of the opposition’s carriers.

    10: Dan Edwards 5

    Edwards did well around the park, throwing himself into defence bravely but largely in vain; slowing down Fiji’s gameplay as much as possible is always the goal, to be fair. From the tee, though, his faults were a lot less forgivable, as he missed most of his kicks and kept Wales under pressure when they really couldn’t afford to be.

    11: Josh Adams 9

    The wingers didn’t get to shine much, but Adams’ best selling point is his defence, which he showed by claiming a very helpful turnover near the 50 meter line. But the real highlight was his try, with his vision and determination letting him surprise Ravutaumada. A player of his experience and quality will be valuable in this tournament.

    12: Joe Hawkins 6

    Hawkins drew the short straw in being the first line of defence against the untackleable Josua Tuisova, but he kept his channel largely under control. Worked well to cover Edwards on defence, but couldn’t bring much influence on attack, and Rayesi’s footwork was too much for him on a few occasions.

    13: Eddie James 6

    Also made some big interventions on defence despite the quality of Fiji’s carriers, but also made some big errors. Generally, Eddie’s job was to organise the defence of the backline, and it stood strong for most of the game, but his own contributions fell short next to some of his teammates.

    14: Louis Rees-Zammit 3

    Not good. Mostly silent on attack and was stuck with the unenviable task of containing Wainiqolo on defence, which he didn’t. Struggled under the high ball, and generally went anonymous when Wales needed go-forward. From a player of his quality, you’d expect a lot more.

    15: Blair Murray 7

    Still struggled under the high ball, but made up for it on defence and with the ball in hand. Murray was elusive as ever, making very impactful carries and kicking well to gain space. Has done himself a lot of favours showing that he’s a Test-quality fullback where Wales need to develop options.

    BENCH

    16: Ryan Elias 8

    Kept the scrum and maul working well, picking up where Lake left off and scoring a try for his efforts. Brought his workrate to the Fijian pack well.

    17: Nicky Smith 8

    Weirdly, less impactful scrummaging than Carré, but was still strong. Much better around the field, being a constant breakdown annoyance.

    18: Ben Warren 6

    Not much to write about, but also held on well with the scrum, which is definitely an achievement for a Welsh tighthead, especially on his first cap.

    19: Taine Plumtree N/A

    Not a lot of gametime at 8 to make an impact, but looked up for some big carries. Will probably get more opportunities later on.

    20: James Botham 8

    Big work at the breakdown, could’ve easily started with how well he threw himself at the rucks. A nice turnover helped wrap up the game for Wales.

    21: Kieran Hardy N/A

    Here we go again…

    22: Sam Costelow 7

    Wales needed direction and control in the late game, and Costelow brought a lot more of it than Edwards. Only one kick, but was solid at the tee and helped close out the game.

    23: Ellis Mee 6

    Better defensive work, though less strong under the high ball and quiet on attack. Looked hungry to get some work done, and he may be one to watch as the tournament goes on.

    My Team for Argentina:

    1. Rhys Carré
    2. Dewi Lake
    3. Dillon Lewis
    4. Ben Carter
    5. Adam Beard
    6. Jac Morgan
    7. Tommy Reffell
    8. Aaron Wainwright
    9. Tomos Williams
    10. Sam Costelow
    11. Josh Adams
    12. Eddie James
    13. Max Llewellyn
    14. Louis Rees-Zammit
    15. Ellis Mee

    BENCH

    1. Ryan Elias
    2. Nicky Smith
    3. Sam Wainwright
    4. Teddy Williams
    5. James Botham
    6. Reuben Morgan-Williams
    7. Dan Edwards
    8. Mason Grady

    Following Scotland’s win over Argentina, Wales’ next opponents will be desperate to right wrongs before facing a more intimidating England side. Luckily, the match provided a helpful blueprint; Scotland were dominant in collisions and at the breakdown, retaining possession and carrying with intent to wear down the opposition. Tandy has already stated his intention to alter the team to cope with the travelling, so some players have been replaced to give them a rest following the gruelling physicality of the Fiji test.

    Up front, the pack is largely the same; with only three locks, there isn’t much more to be done to stabilise the setpiece. Sam Wainwright should at least get an opportunity to show his scrummaging credentials, to best assess Wales’ options ahead of the Springboks test. The backrow has also been reshuffled, as Tommy Reffell’s jackaling skills will be helpful in slowing down Argentina’s ball and regaining possession. Tandy usually prefers a lineout-taking 6, so Mann or Plumtree are viable options, but Reffell has been a solid lineout taker for Leicester in the past.

    The backline has seen a more significant shift; Costelow brings stronger game management than Edwards, as Wales will need to be more controlled than they were against Fiji. His centre combination has also shifted to give him more familiar options outside him; Eddie James can bring a similar carrying threat to Sione Tuipulotu, while Max Llewellyn can make consistent linebreaks when the Argentinian defence opens up, and both are physical enough to put pressure on Tomas Albornoz.

    Both wingers are retained, as they have proven test credentials and are solid under the high ball, though Louis Rees-Zammit will need a stronger performance on both sides of the ball. Ellis Mee replaces Blair Murray at fullback, as while the latter performed well against Fiji, Argentina are far more reliant on their aerial game through Rodrigo Isgro and Lucio Cinti, who got away with putting pressure on Murray’s weaker high ball skills last time. Mason Grady should also bring some energy and power in the lategame, as his size can dominate collisions against Argentina’s smaller backs.

    Wales will need to be a lot more structured and clinical against Argentina, as they are in turn a lot more structured and clinical than Fiji, and have a wider spread of experienced and world-class players. Argentina will want to open the game up with tactical kicking, but if Wales are competitive at the setpiece, they have the carrying threats to gain territory. Who concedes more penalties will likely be the deciding factor, as both teams tend to struggle with discipline. Wales’ improvements in this area against Fiji are promising, but they’ll be under a lot more pressure next week.

  • Wales vs Barbarians Review – Nations Championship 2026

    Wales vs Barbarians Review – Nations Championship 2026

    Barbarians 31 – 33 Wales

    The first back-to-back Wales victories since the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Which isn’t the most flattering benchmark, but it’s been a long time coming in preparation for the Nations Championship. Prior to this match, the Barbarians lost to the Springboks 80-31, so if the takeaway from this game is that the Springboks, the world Number 1s, are 47 points better than an away-player-less Wales, it’s a fair cop.

    Generally, this was a step down from Wales’ performance against Italy, notably in the first half where the score ended 5-14. Wales’ defence held firm against a constant stream of powerful carries from the likes of Nathan Hughes and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who channelled frustration at missing out on international honours, but Wales found plenty of answers to the challengers’ questions. Wales were the more controlled and measured side, making linebreaks when given the opportunity, though not always being clinical enough to finish them.

    Only when George North entered the field, did things start to heat up. Wales’ attack elevated when their own replacements came on, but North’s carrying presented a formidable challenge as he claimed two scores to keep the gap close for the rest of the game. With Harry Plummer’s two missed conversions and Dan Edwards’ one, this would’ve been a dead even game – a fitting warm-up for the upcoming tour.

    Overall, Wales will take the win, though question marks may remain over areas such as the scrum and defence where they had more difficulty. The more structured national sides they will be facing over the next three weeks will pose a lot more competition to Wales in these areas, so Tandy has a lot to consider in preparation for those games.

    Player Ratings:

    1: Gareth Thomas 4

    Wales’ scrum had a very poor start, and Thomas was the prop most frequently penalised. At the same time, his around the field contributions were notable, making 9 tackles and 2 turnovers, but his faults were more costly. This kind of performance is becoming a concerning theme, but his discipline has improved from last time. 

    2: Dewi Lake 7

    His low pass to Wainwright was a black mark, and he has to be marked down for the weak early scrum, but otherwise Lake was solid here. Influential on both sides of the ball, he closed the gap on the Baabaas physicality, and looked a fair bit faster than usual in the carry.

    3: Dillon Lewis 4

    Not the return to the Wales jersey he’d have wanted, though he was the stronger of the starting two props in the scrum, and helped win a penalty towards the end of the second half. Lewis is more renowned for his work around the field than in the scrum, but it was more of the opposite here.

    4: Ben Carter 7

    Strong defensive performance as always, tying with Jac for most tackles completed. Missed a couple, but he’s been the model of consistency since the Six Nations, so expect him to start against Fiji

    5: Teddy Williams 6

    Didn’t look like someone who hasn’t played since October. Teddy’s workrate was just as high as Ben’s, though he obviously played fewer minutes. Will bring more impactful efforts in attack when he’s fully recovered.

    6: Taine Plumtree 6

    This looked a lot closer to Plumtree’s Scarlets efforts than his usual Wales ones. For one, he didn’t get carded. But generally, he was a constant thorn in the Baabaas defence in the first half, with multiple effective carries and handled the brunt of Wales’ strong lineouts. Still, one feels he has some work to do before he’s pushing Mann or Botham out of the 6 jersey.

    7: Jac Morgan 7

    Jac tied with Ben Carter for most tackles made, but this felt like a step back from his typically influential performances. Optimistically, this may be a sign that the team isn’t as reliant on him to carry them anymore, though his defensive workrate remains at its usual standard.

    8: Aaron Wainwright 8

    Another game, another performance where Waino is one of the best players on the pitch. Made the bulk of Wales’ carries, throwing himself into larger players and coming out on top, and being generally unlucky not to score a try. Just as strong in defence too, making 13 and missing none. Hopefully, he’ll be raring to take on Fiji with the same energy.

    9: Kieran Hardy 7

    His best performance for Wales in a while, as he worked well with Dan Edwards to pull the strings of Wales’ attack. His efforts didn’t all field results, but he was involved with all 3 of Wales first tries before leaving. Given Tandy’s tendency to leave him benched until the end of a game, this was a statement of intent that he can more than hold his own at this level.

    10: Dan Edwards 8

    Another of Wales’ best. Two tries, a solid series of kicks whether at the tee or across the field, and read the opposition very well. Edwards played with complete confidence whenever he got his hands on the ball, though it was a tougher showing for him on defence. Wales had a few issues in general under the high ball, but when Edwards clicked, he was excellent.

    11: Ellis Mee 5

    A tough one to rank; in another timeline, he would’ve scored a hattrick, and he beat more defenders than anyone else. However, under the high ball, he struggled to make an impact, and couldn’t help out much on defence either. 

    12: Joe Hawkins 7

    Good with ball in hand, struggled without; this will be a common theme among the backs. Hawkins missed 6 tackles, which sounds poor, though he did well to shepherd attackers into difficult spots. His carrying and passing efforts were effective, though, so Tandy will probably stick with him at 12.

    13: Eddie James 6

    Not really an improvement on his Six Nations’ outing. James made some good carries, but got outplayed by Nankivell and Ward, who targeted his channel a lot. His handling will need to improve if he’s to stay ahead of Max Llewlleyn in the pecking order.

    14: Tom Rogers 4

    Not great; outside of the typical defensive issues the backline suffered with, Rogers also couldn’t handle his opposing numbers in the air, even though it’s usually one of his stronger areas. May be rested going forward if he wants to play fullback for Ospreys, as he will need time to find his best position.

    15: Blair Murray 7

    One of the scarier calls going into the game, Murray wasn’t challenged much in the air, allowing him to show the rest of his abilities to the fullest. Showed his impressive strength in stopping a try from a close-range restart, and constantly dazzled defenders with his footwork and kicking. May have earned his starting spot, though the airgame will be a concern against more organised teams.

    BENCH

    16: Ryan Elias 7

    Bolstered the scrum, and generally picked up where Lake left off, though he was less noteworthy around the park. The clear choice for the 16 jersey against Fiji

    17: Rhys Barratt 7

    Easily the best of the debutants. His scrummaging wasn’t perfect, but he held on well overall, which will stand him in good stead given his very impressive carry. Barratt’s workrate is a real selling point among the selected front rowers, and he may have done enough work to avoid being dropped.

    18: Ben Warren 6

    Didn’t collapse a scrum, so he gets a point for that. Otherwise was fairly quiet.

    19: Ryan Woodman 5

    Also pretty quiet, though matching his fellow locks’ workrate was never going to be easy. 

    20: Harrison Keddie 5

    Looked strong, but faded away pretty quickly. Lacks the sheer dynamism of other backrowers, and tried to compensate with physicality against a side that relishes contests of brute force; not the easiest gamble.

    21: Reuben Morgan-Williams 7

    One of the most underrated players in the squad, and showed why as he arguably outplayed Hardy. He sped up the ruck service considerably, and brought his own threat with ball-in-hand with a brilliant dummy pass to set up his own try. Even after both scrum halves put in such great performances, RMW has made a particularly strong case to be drafted into to the 23 against Fiji.

    22: Sam Costelow 6

    Costelow was fine, which was all he really needed to be after Edwards did so much work. He made his conversions and led the attack well, though he got overshadowed by those around him

    23: Mason Grady 5

    Not particularly impactful, and made some weird defensive errors. Also didn’t really get to touch the ball, limiting his main strength. If he’d started, he’d likely have a similar impact to Mee or Rogers.

    My Team to face Fiji:

    1. Rhys Carré
    2. Dewi Lake
    3. Dillon Lewis
    4. Ben Carter
    5. Teddy Williams
    6. Alex Mann
    7. Jac Morgan
    8. Aaron Wainwright
    9. Tomos Williams
    10. Dan Edwards
    11. Josh Adams
    12. Joe Hawkins
    13. Eddie James
    14. Louis Rees-Zammit
    15. Blair Murray

    BENCH

    1. Evan Lloyd
    2. Nicky Smith
    3. Ben Warren
    4. Adam Beard
    5. James Botham
    6. Reuben Morgan-Williams
    7. Sam Costelow
    8. Max Llewellyn

    I wanted to wait until Tandy trimmed down the squad for the rest of the campaign before trying to work out what approach might be taken against Fiji. While Dafydd Jenkins’ injury is an unwelcome surprise, the following team looks well-equipped to handle the Flying Fijians’ typical gameplan. Like the Barbarians’, Fiji appreciate an open, chaotic style of gameplay, so physicality and a focused defence will be needed to restrain their biggest threats.

    The return of English-based players helps with this a lot; in addition to their experience, it helps deepen the squad as Tandy has stated he wants to rotate players throughout the campaign to help ease the physical pressure of travelling. This first fixture will still be in Cardiff, but it’s something to keep in mind when building future teams. 

    Fiji’s weakness is usually their discipline and struggles asserting control over a match, but Wainiqolo and Ravouvou can score from anywhere, so Hawkins and James will need to improve considerably from their defensive efforts last weekend. Murray at fullback is a risk, but while targeting him with high balls could be an option for Fiji, Tuisova and the aforementioned wingers are also a significant threat to Ellis Mee’s awkward defence; Tandy will probably choose the one who’s more used to the role.

    The pack is composed primarily of high-work rate tacklers than powerful carriers; Wales can’t compete with some of the Top 14’s biggest powerhouses, but players like Ben Carter and Alex Mann could outwork the Fijians instead, who often make mistakes when pressured hard enough at the breakdown. If they can hold back Ireland’s phase plays, they should be able to do the same here. James Botham is another option at 6, and probably starts if Mann isn’t up for it, but on the bench he brings a good blend of physicality and versatility, with his breakdown skills giving him an edge over Plumtree.

    If Evan Lloyd fits any of the Championship’s matchups, it’s this one, as the setpiece is less of a concern here than against the Pumas or Springboks. I’ve also rewarded Reuben Morgan Williams for his bench performance against the BaaBaas, as he’s more of a solo threat than Hardy, while Llewellyn should provide the adequate bench coverage while bringing a strong late-game carrying threat.

  • My Wales Team for the Barbarians Match – Nations Championship 2026

    My Wales Team for the Barbarians Match – Nations Championship 2026

    The last time Wales faced the Barbarians, there was a sense of finality; the last international game in the careers of Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, and Leigh Halfpenny. This time, it’ll also be George North’s final game, bringing an end to yet another international representative of the golden years of Welsh international rugby. With the Barbarians due to play South Africa, we have a glimpse of what the rest of the opposition will look like, but for most of the squad, this kind of test will be the first of its kind.

    It’s also uncapped, meaning non-Wales-based players will also be ineligible. This will force Tandy to bring new players into the fold, not helped by many other established players having end-of-season injury concerns. However, much of the squad has recovered in time for the tests, leaving plenty of questions as to how the team will be built. Will established players be trusted to handle the physicality of the Baabaas? Or will new combinations be trialled to prepare for the higher-stakes fixtures of the Nations Championship? Why it’s in Twickenham the week after the PREM final is its own question.

    Anyway, here is my team to face the Barbarians next weekend:

    1: Gareth Thomas

    Thomas hasn’t been the most consistent player for Wales in recent campaigns, but with him and the uncapped Rhys Barratt as the only options, he should be the more well-equipped to handle the Baabaas’ experienced internationals. His chop-tackling skills will also help Wales’ range of jackling specialists.

    2: Dewi Lake

    Lake could be rested for the Fiji test, but after missing all the post-Six Nations action and with Ryan Elias playing as many minutes as he has, Tandy might want to give the former a chance to resync with international rugby. If Elliot Dee stays with the opposition, it’ll be a fun battle between the 2025 Six Nations hookers. 

    3: Dilon Lewis

    Well, Assiratti’s injury has come back, so we’re back at the tighthead Wheel of Fortune. Lewis was the second-choice behind Francis for a while, and it’s nice to see him back and playing pretty well for Dragons, having missed most of the season through injury. His scrummaging needs to be strong, but as the largest and by far most experienced tighthead, the 3 jersey really should be his.

    4: Ben Carter

    With there only being 3 Wales-based locks in the squad, the question is more about composition than selection. Carter had a great Six Nations, has played almost the entire season for Dragons, and is a persistent defender who can help physically bind opposing attacks. He was used largely as a lineout controller during the Six Nations, though that may take a backseat for a more physical presence, as he’s the largest lock available

    5: Teddy Willams

    It’s all coming together: Teddy appears to be back in full training following his season-ending injury in October last year, and he’ll need to be at his best to stay with the squad going into the Nations Championship. Like Carter, his defensive workrate and lineout skills are very solid, but his faster and more athletic carrying style gives him a real point of difference. If he can disrupt Elliot Dee’s lineout, it’ll be a real achievement.

    6: James Botham

    Generally, Alex Mann has been the first choice at blindside under Tandy, but not only does Botham offer more physical go-forward and has finished his season in great form, Mann has spent most of the post-Six Nations period injured, ad Tandy will want to keep one of his key players available for the Championship. Botham may get the edge in turn, but should more than seize the opportunity.

    7: Jac Morgan

    Like Dewi, Jac could be rested for the test games, but there are fewer available back-rowers relative to hookers, so this will likely mark his return to international rugby. Of course, Jac is no stranger to injury breaks, and equally consistent with how well he plays on return; he’s already won Player of the Match in his short epilogue with the Ospreys, and Wales will value his leadership and ruck work alongside the similarly abrasive Botham.

    8: Aaron Wainwright

    Waino is the only Wales-based 8 (aside from the more versatile Harrison Keddie) so this should be a given. Arguably Wales’ overall player of the season, his powerful carries are as instrumental to Wales’ attack as his workrate is to their defence. The BaaBaas have a very big backrow, but it’s nothing he can’t handle. 

    9: Kieran Hardy

    Honestly, who knows; Tandy’s barely used anyone besides Tomos Williams so it’s anyone’s guess between the 3 Wales-based scrum-halves. Hardy has almost always been the back up, though, and started the last uncapped game against the Springboks, so it seems like a safe bet. He’s a great support player who tends to score more tries than Williams on average, though he’ll want to show he’s more than a backup if he wants anymore gametime.

    10: Sam Costelow

    A more controversial pick, but Edwards has played almost 80 minutes of almost every game this year and could use a break, and it’s fair to say Costelow’s strong Six Nations form ended too abruptly for how well he played against Scotland. Even if Edwards takes up the mantle against Fiji, Costelow’s stronger defence makes him a good fit against the Baabaas, and he could use some minutes under his belt if he’s brought in for the Championship tests.

    11: Mason Grady

    Winger is a tough one; there are five main options available, 3 of which have faced significant injury spells towards the end of the season. Ultimately, Grady was in strong form before being sidelined, and his physicality gives him a real selling point should Tandy wish to rest players higher up the pecking order like Josh Adams.

    12: Joe Hawkins

    Tandy could decide the Baabaas game is the perfect ground to test a centre combo with Eddie James at 12. Then again, with how much disruption the rest of the team is facing anyway, sticking with the main centre combo is also a smart move. Hawkins hasn’t played much at 12 and has arguably been in worse club form than Ben Thomas, but he offers more physicality and ended the Six Nations well.

    13: Eddie James

    Is he a 12 or a 13? Really, he’s both, but this is his current position. With a powerful carrying game and a great skill for reading attackers, he’s a natural fit for the jersey when stronger teams come around, and it’d be surprising if Tandy doesn’t try to get as much out of him as possible in preparation for the World Cup.

    14: Blair Murray

    While I was fairly set on Grady, Murray presents an awkward conundrum; Ellis Mee is higher up my pecking order (and likely Tandy’s) but wing might be a better fit for Murray than fullback at international level given his inconsistent airgame. If they’re going to try it, this is a good testing ground, and Ellis Mee’s injury towards the end of the season makes resting him another concern. Still, Murray’s pace, agility, and strong kicking game make him an asset to the Welsh backline.

    15: Tom Rogers

    Similarly to Murray, this might be a good place to test Rogers’ credentials as a fullback, especially with Louis Rees-Zammit wanting to be a winger. His move to Ospreys suggests this is his preferred position, though he’ll have competition there as well. Either way, he’s better under the high ball than Murray, has a strong kicking game, and can just as comfortably attack on his own.

    BENCH

    16: Evan Lloyd

    Ryan Elias and Liam Belcher are clearly above him in the pecking order, but Lloyd is the only one of the three to really gain from playing this fixture. His X-factor is clear, but he hasn’t managed to translate his power into a strong performance at international level. To earn a spot in the Nations Championship team, he’ll need to prove he can cut it at this level.

    17: Rhys Barratt

    Barratt’s overall game looks good, but the question will be if he can maintain that output at international level. Like Archie Griffin, he brings a constant defensive presence, but his scrummaging has looked a lot better this season than Griffin’s. With a lot of competition among the younger looseheads, this is a good opportunity to show how he compares.

    18: Ben Warren

    Between Warren and Sam Wainwright, there isn’t much separating them; they’re both the third choices at their clubs, and haven’t amassed much gametime for different reasons. Wainwright is more likely to lock down the scrum, but Warren is closer to Lewis in skillset; he can carry well, tackle hard, and get work done over the ball. I’m expecting both to get gametime at some point.

    19: Ryan Woodman

    Woodman prefers blindside, but is just as comfortable at lock. Still, his relative lack of size make the bench a more tactical choice; keeping the scrum at full power for the majority of the match, then leveraging his carrying game later on. His lineout stealing skills are also similar to Teddy Williams, so it’s synergistically fitting for him to replace the latter as well.

    20: Taine Plumtree

    Discipline aside, Plumtree finished his season strong after returning from injury. He’s consistently been one of the Scarlets’ strongest performers, and his dynamism and versatility make him a natural bench pick for Wales on any given day. With the backrow most likely to be trimmed down, and the other players’ hold over the starting jerseys, a strong performance here increases his likelihood of featuring in the bigger games.

    21: Harrison Keddie

    The Baabaas have a big backrow, as mentioned earlier, so a 6-2 bench will help manage their physicality. Keddie is the only other backrower besides Mann, and has had a strong season for Dragons as Waino’s deputy, so he’ll likely play a similar role here; carrying hard into contact, adding power in the ruck, and landing powerful hits in defence. His versatility is also helpful, like Plumtree, and he’ll want to prove he can compete at this level to retain a place in the squad.

    22: Reuben Morgan-Williams

    Ellis Bevan could fit in here, as he likely won’t get much opportunity otherwise, but even with this being his fourth successive Wales campaign, it feels like RMW has had just as little chance. Being slightly younger than Williams and Hardy, he may be viewed as their successor post-World Cup, but he’ll need more gametime after some promising touches and consistent regional performances.

    23: Joe Roberts

    Roberts also had a strong end to the season for Scarlets, and while it’s strange to forgo an option for fullback or fly-half cover, his attacking mindset could be helpful in the late game. Should Eddie James move to 12, he’s a natural partner, with the two having worked together for the better part of 2 years, and he’s had a lot more gametime out on the wing this season, should the need arise.