RugbyRebels

Who do you think we should be taking on the summer tour? There are some youngsters who could rise to the challenge I reckon, I think the main youngsters I would like to see given an opportunity are:

Morgan Morse
Macs Page
Tom Bowen
James Fender
Ryan Woodman

I'm sure I've missed someone, maybe Hamer-Webb tho he's not really a youngster, Harry Rees-Weldon was quite impressive for the Scarlets last weekend so he's an option also.

and thats where we are i guess..... pretty underwhelming

Numbers wrote: ↑Wed Apr 30, 2025 11:10 am Who do you think we should be taking on the summer tour? There are some youngsters who could rise to the challenge I reckon, I think the main youngsters I would like to see given an opportunity are:

Morgan Morse
Macs Page
Tom Bowen
James Fender
Ryan Woodman

I'm sure I've missed someone, maybe Hamer-Webb tho he's not really a youngster, Harry Rees-Weldon was quite impressive for the Scarlets last weekend so he's an option also.

I wouldn’t argue with any of them. I do t think we will be missing too many to the Lions, so my key objective would be winning. But we should look to blood a few youngsters.

We should be looking to cap some dual-qualified youngsters. To shut WOL up about them

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Fri May 02, 2025 4:57 pm We should be looking to cap some dual-qualified youngsters. To shut WOL up about them

Getting tiresome isn’t it?!

Forgive me for my ignorance as I live in NZ so only really get details.of the national team and its woes, but what happened to Callum Sheedy? He was supposed to be the 10 that got the backs moving like he did at the Bears, but seems to have disappeared from National consideration. How's he doing at Cardiff?

JonnyScuba wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 8:25 am Forgive me for my ignorance as I live in NZ so only really get details.of the national team and its woes, but what happened to Callum Sheedy? He was supposed to be the 10 that got the backs moving like he did at the Bears, but seems to have disappeared from National consideration. How's he doing at Cardiff?

Not sure what Gatland's thinking was with him. At the start of the season I thought he should have been in the Welsh squad. And he's been playing well for Cardiff. However, his placekicking has become unreliable, below the level essential for test rugby IMO. If he fixes that, he should be back in the running, but I think he does have some flaws in his basic technique ie he always curls the ball to the left.

But with a new coach incoming, who knows which players might get another chance?

WALES SQUAD FOR JAPAN TOUR

Forwards: Keiron Assiratti, Liam Belcher, Ben Carter, Chris Coleman, Elliot Dee, Taulupe Faletau, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (captain), Josh Macleod, Alex Mann, Garyn Phillips, Taine Plumtree, James Ratti, Tommy Reffell, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Freddie Thomas, Aaron Wainwright, Teddy Williams.

Backs: Josh Adams, Sam Costelow, Dan Edwards, Keelan Giles, Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Blair Murray, Macs Page, Joe Roberts, Tom Rogers, Ben Thomas, Johnny Williams, Rhodri Williams, Cameron Winnett.


Notable omissions:

James Botham
Henry Thomas
Kemsley Matthias
Ryan Elias
Will Rowlands
Dafydd Jenkins
Gareth Anscombe
Jarrod Evans
Eddie James
Nick Tompkins
Max Llewellyn
Josh Hathaway

I'm glad to see Ratti selected, he's looked good since coming back from injury and Belcher probably deserves his chance as he is very consistent with his performances.

From the WOL

New-look Wales squad named as six uncapped players called up amid shock omissions
Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn and a number of other names are missing, while new faces are in

By Ben James

3 min. readView original
Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn and a number of other names are missing, while new faces are in
Wales have named their squad for the summer tour of Japan, with interim coach Matt Sherratt naming six new caps he bids to end over 600 days of waiting for a Test win.

Cardiff hooker Liam Belcher, Dragons tighthead Chris Coleman, Ospreys loosehead Garyn Phillips, Ospreys scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams, Scarlets back Macs Page and Ospreys wing Keelan Giles are the uncapped contingent as Sherratt named a 33-man squad for the two-Test tour in Japan. Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake, having skippered Wales in the summer and autumn last year, leads the team in Lions call-up Jac Morgan's absence.

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With Morgan and Tomos Williams the only call-ups for the British and Irish Lions, there was never likely to be too many surprises. However, even with the lack of Lions, there's no place for the likes of James Botham, Gareth Anscombe, Ellis Mee, Nick Tompkins and Max Llewellyn from the Six Nations squad.

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Second-rows Adam Beard and Will Rowlands are rested, while Dafydd Jenkins and Henry Thomas are both ruled out through injury. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.

Sherratt has handed Test recalls to Kieran Hardy, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, James Ratti, Johnny Williams and Cameron Winnett.

Ben Carter, Sam Costelow and Archie Griffin all return after missing the Six Nations through injury.

“I’m excited to get the players together in camp to begin preparations for our summer campaign," said Sherratt. "I think there’s a good blend of experience and young talent selected and that this group has a lot of potential.

“Going to Japan this July is a challenge the coaches and I are relishing. We are expecting a fierce contest from Japan in these Test matches.

“Over the next few weeks in camp, it’s about working hard, getting all our prep right on and off the pitch and gelling together as a group.”

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Players will join up with Wales on a staggered basis from Monday depending on when their club season ends, before the squad flies out to Japan towards the end of June.

Wales' last victory in international rugby came against Georgia in the World Cup back in October 2023, meaning it will be 637 days of waiting when they face Japan this summer. Wales take on Japan in the first Test in Kitakyushu on July 5, before playing them again the following week in Kobe.

With no permanent replacement for Warren Gatland in place, Sherratt will once assume the interim role - having been in charge for the final three matches of the Six Nations following Gatland's mid-tournament departure.

Wales squad for Japan (uncapped players in italics)
Forwards: Keiron Assiratti, Liam Belcher, Ben Carter, Chris Coleman, Elliot Dee, Taulupe Faletau, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (captain), Josh Macleod, Alex Mann, Garyn Phillips, Taine Plumtree, James Ratti, Tommy Reffell, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Freddie Thomas, Aaron Wainwright, Teddy Williams.

Backs: Josh Adams, Sam Costelow, Dan Edwards, Keelan Giles, Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Blair Murray, Macs Page, Joe Roberts, Tom Rogers, Ben Thomas, Johnny Williams, Rhodri Williams, Cameron Winnett.

looking really light at tight head.

Tuco Ramirez wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 1:00 pm looking really light at tight head.

Yeah, I think I'd have taken Henry Thomas.

Tuco Ramirez wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 1:00 pm looking really light at tight head.

Assiratti is awful, Archie Griffin got mullered v Bokke. Coleman?? Whats he like guys?

Oh, I just read Hammy's post and Thomas and Dafydd Jenkins are both injured, tho it's a bit odd as Jenkins played the full game for Exeter on Sunday.

I guess the unfortunate thing is that since Sherratt is just the interim coach, he won't be taking a long term view. It's all about winning these games (not that I'm 100% against that idea ), which might explain Morgan Morse's omission.

Pleased to see Ratti, Giles and Johnny Williams in there. Surprised to see Mann ahead of Botham but Sherratt knows them a lot better than I do. Surprised also that James and Mee miss out. I wouldn't have picked Adams. And no Hamer-Webb?

Tuco Ramirez wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 1:50 pm

Tuco Ramirez wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 1:00 pm looking really light at tight head.

Assiratti is awful, Archie Griffin got mullered v Bokke. Coleman?? Whats he like guys?

I'm not an expert on front row play but he certainly has the size, he's 6'2" and 19st 10 lbs, he's 26 so should be coming into his prime I should think.

Tuco Ramirez wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 1:50 pm

Tuco Ramirez wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 1:00 pm looking really light at tight head.

Assiratti is awful, Archie Griffin got mullered v Bokke. Coleman?? Whats he like guys?

Errrm. He will get away with the scrum against Japan, I hope.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 3:24 pm I guess the unfortunate thing is that since Sherratt is just the interim coach, he won't be taking a long term view. It's all about winning these games (not that I'm 100% against that idea ), which might explain Morgan Morse's omission.

Pleased to see Ratti, Giles and Johnny Williams in there. Surprised to see Mann ahead of Botham but Sherratt knows them a lot better than I do. Surprised also that James and Mee miss out. I wouldn't have picked Adams. And no Hamer-Webb?

Morse is a bit unfortunate. Some youngsters in there with some experience, but Mann vs Morse is a tough call IMO.

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 9:36 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 3:24 pm I guess the unfortunate thing is that since Sherratt is just the interim coach, he won't be taking a long term view. It's all about winning these games (not that I'm 100% against that idea ), which might explain Morgan Morse's omission.

Pleased to see Ratti, Giles and Johnny Williams in there. Surprised to see Mann ahead of Botham but Sherratt knows them a lot better than I do. Surprised also that James and Mee miss out. I wouldn't have picked Adams. And no Hamer-Webb?

Morse is a bit unfortunate. Some youngsters in there with some experience, but Mann vs Morse is a tough call IMO.

Morse is the most talented back-row forward in Wales outside the established group. Our future is tied to developing him. He's a bit lightweight, but punches well above his size, fortunately. I wonder if they're wrapping him in cotton wool until the time is right, i.e. Faletau calls it a day.

On the question of Tightheads - this is in today's WoL

Adam Jones influenced shock Wales pick
Surprise new Wales call-up Chris Coleman made it into the summer squad on the recommendation of tighthead legend Adam Jones.

‌

The Dragons tighthead has been a constant for the Men of Gwent this season, taking on the brunt of the load following the retirements of Leon Brown and Lloyd Fairbrother, as well as injuries to Dmitri Arhip and Luke Yendle. The 26-year-old, who previously played for Wales U20s, has started 15 times for the Dragons this season - with four more appearances off the bench.

‌

And as Matt Sherratt announced his 33-man squad for the tour of Japan, he revealed it was former Wales and Lions prop Jones - who will once again work with the national team on secondment from Harlequins - who had identified Coleman as worthy of a first call-up. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.

"I’ll be honest with you, Adam Jones had a big say on that," said the Wales interim coach. "He did a lot of work in terms of looking at his footage.

"He spoke to Sam Hobbs and Filo (Tiatia) with what he’s got to offer.

"I think everything that came back was that, with the right coaching and if his mindset is in the right place, he could be one for the future.

"I think he’s someone who has fallen into the bracket of ‘let’s have a look at him’.

"He’s started a lot of regional games. He’s a big man.

UKHamlet wrote: ↑Wed May 21, 2025 8:29 am On the question of Tightheads - this is in today's WoL

Adam Jones influenced shock Wales pick
Surprise new Wales call-up Chris Coleman made it into the summer squad on the recommendation of tighthead legend Adam Jones.

‌

The Dragons tighthead has been a constant for the Men of Gwent this season, taking on the brunt of the load following the retirements of Leon Brown and Lloyd Fairbrother, as well as injuries to Dmitri Arhip and Luke Yendle. The 26-year-old, who previously played for Wales U20s, has started 15 times for the Dragons this season - with four more appearances off the bench.

‌

And as Matt Sherratt announced his 33-man squad for the tour of Japan, he revealed it was former Wales and Lions prop Jones - who will once again work with the national team on secondment from Harlequins - who had identified Coleman as worthy of a first call-up. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.

"I’ll be honest with you, Adam Jones had a big say on that," said the Wales interim coach. "He did a lot of work in terms of looking at his footage.

"He spoke to Sam Hobbs and Filo (Tiatia) with what he’s got to offer.

"I think everything that came back was that, with the right coaching and if his mindset is in the right place, he could be one for the future.

"I think he’s someone who has fallen into the bracket of ‘let’s have a look at him’.

"He’s started a lot of regional games. He’s a big man.

If Adam Jones recommends a tighthead, you select that tighthead.

UKHamlet wrote: ↑Wed May 21, 2025 8:14 am

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 9:36 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 3:24 pm I guess the unfortunate thing is that since Sherratt is just the interim coach, he won't be taking a long term view. It's all about winning these games (not that I'm 100% against that idea ), which might explain Morgan Morse's omission.

Pleased to see Ratti, Giles and Johnny Williams in there. Surprised to see Mann ahead of Botham but Sherratt knows them a lot better than I do. Surprised also that James and Mee miss out. I wouldn't have picked Adams. And no Hamer-Webb?

Morse is a bit unfortunate. Some youngsters in there with some experience, but Mann vs Morse is a tough call IMO.

Morse is the most talented back-row forward in Wales outside the established group. Our future is tied to developing him. He's a bit lightweight, but punches well above his size, fortunately. I wonder if they're wrapping him in cotton wool until the time is right, i.e. Faletau calls it a day.

If they are then I think that’s a mistake. I get why they want some experience for this tour and there is huge competition for the BR. Maybe, they aren’t sure on his position yet, but as a No 8 there’s two experienced players in his way. Other than that I’d suggest he would be in there. If Faletau gets an early call for the Lions then I think Morse will get a shout.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Wed May 21, 2025 10:50 am

UKHamlet wrote: ↑Wed May 21, 2025 8:29 am On the question of Tightheads - this is in today's WoL

Adam Jones influenced shock Wales pick
Surprise new Wales call-up Chris Coleman made it into the summer squad on the recommendation of tighthead legend Adam Jones.

‌

The Dragons tighthead has been a constant for the Men of Gwent this season, taking on the brunt of the load following the retirements of Leon Brown and Lloyd Fairbrother, as well as injuries to Dmitri Arhip and Luke Yendle. The 26-year-old, who previously played for Wales U20s, has started 15 times for the Dragons this season - with four more appearances off the bench.

‌

And as Matt Sherratt announced his 33-man squad for the tour of Japan, he revealed it was former Wales and Lions prop Jones - who will once again work with the national team on secondment from Harlequins - who had identified Coleman as worthy of a first call-up. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.

"I’ll be honest with you, Adam Jones had a big say on that," said the Wales interim coach. "He did a lot of work in terms of looking at his footage.

"He spoke to Sam Hobbs and Filo (Tiatia) with what he’s got to offer.

"I think everything that came back was that, with the right coaching and if his mindset is in the right place, he could be one for the future.

"I think he’s someone who has fallen into the bracket of ‘let’s have a look at him’.

"He’s started a lot of regional games. He’s a big man.

If Adam Jones recommends a tighthead, you select that tighthead.

If Adam Jones thinks he can be developed then I’m not going to argue with that. I wouldn’t suggest his performances to date have been worthy of a cap, although being a bit unit is a good starter for life as a tight head.

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Wed May 21, 2025 12:49 pm

UKHamlet wrote: ↑Wed May 21, 2025 8:14 am

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 9:36 pm

Morse is a bit unfortunate. Some youngsters in there with some experience, but Mann vs Morse is a tough call IMO.

Morse is the most talented back-row forward in Wales outside the established group. Our future is tied to developing him. He's a bit lightweight, but punches well above his size, fortunately. I wonder if they're wrapping him in cotton wool until the time is right, i.e. Faletau calls it a day.

If they are then I think that’s a mistake. I get why they want some experience for this tour and there is huge competition for the BR. Maybe, they aren’t sure on his position yet, but as a No 8 there’s two experienced players in his way. Other than that I’d suggest he would be in there. If Faletau gets an early call for the Lions then I think Morse will get a shout.

If we weren't on a massive losing streak and could afford to make this a development tour I'd rest Faletau and bring Morse.

On a related aside, it's crazy that Mackenzie Martin can't get any game time. He should be loaned to the Dragons if Cardiff can't make use of him.

Totally agree SoM. Any normal year and Faletau would be rested for this tour.

Martin broke through and then seemed to fade away. Was he injured? If Cardiff don’t want to play him then he needs to be loaned out somewhere. We can’t allow talent not to develop and he looked promising.

Tuco Ramirez wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 1:50 pm

Tuco Ramirez wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 1:00 pm looking really light at tight head.

Assiratti is awful, Archie Griffin got mullered v Bokke. Coleman?? Whats he like guys?

In fairness to Griffin, at the point he played against the Boks, he had only ever played 10 Premiership games and all of those were short cameos from the bench. Getting folded in half like that is a mandatory learning experience most young props get to have at their clubs, against some horrible old bastard from the Valleys, not against Thomas du Toit with Etzebeth behind him.

It's easy to forget cause he's somehow got 6 caps and 5 starts, but he's woefully inexperienced at adult rugby and Gatland dropped him right in at the deep end. As long as you haven't terminally broken his confidence (and he can actually get some regular club game-time, which I still think will require a move), I still think you've got a decent player there to develop.

Puja