There are some familiar faces missing from Wales’ summer squad
There was a fresh look to Wales’ squad to tour Japan this summer, with Matt Sherratt opting to select 16 players who did not figure during the Six Nations.
The likes of Keelan Giles, Chris Coleman, Macs Page, Liam Belcher and Josh Macleod were perhaps eye-catching selections but there are also a number of familiar faces who have missed out on selection and not all are injured. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
Here are the reasons the 21 players who were included in the most recent Six Nations squad are touring Japan this summer.
Max Llewellyn
When Sherratt was appointed interim head coach midway through the Six Nations the first thing he did was call in Gloucester centre Llewellyn.
The Gloucester centre has been sidelined with an injury for the past few Gallagher Premiership fixtures which is the reason he was not included by Sherratt. Although he is expected back very soon it has been decided to give him a break for the summer.
Ellis Mee
The 21-year-old made his Wales debut in the narrow defeat to Ireland during the Six Nations and put in an excellent performance before featuring against Scotland and England.
Mee has been in relatively good form for the Scarlets but Sherratt has opted for Keelan Giles ahead of the former Nottingham flyer. It was his toughest call.
“Ellis is not injured,” said Sherratt. “That was probably one of the hardest decisions.
“I spoke to Dwayne Peel this morning about it. I think Ellis is going to be a well-capped individual.
“I just feel we need experience. I know Keelan isn’t capped, but he’s toured before and is a regular starter in the URC. That was one of the toughest calls. Ellis has a big future.”
Tomos Williams
The 30-year-old has been a key figure for Wales over the past few seasons and has arguably been the best scrum-half in the Gallagher Premiership this season.
But Williams’ outstanding form for Gloucester has resulted in a well-deserved place on this summer’s British & Irish Lions tour of Australia. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams and Rhodri Williams have some big boots to fill.
Evan Lloyd
Warren Gatland was a big fan of the 23-year-old and viewed him as a player with huge potential.
The powerful hooker has been playing regularly for Cardiff of late but during Sherratt’s tenure as head coach, club captain Liam Belcher has been preferred.
Sherratt has rewarded Belcher for his consistency at United Rugby Championship level but Lloyd can feel a little aggrieved to miss out.
Dafydd Jenkins
The Exeter Chiefs second-row is undoubtedly one of Wales’ most important players and his absence will be keenly felt in Japan this summer.
But the Welsh Rugby Union have revealed Jenkins will have elective surgery this summer which will rule the 22-year-old out of the Japan tour.
It’s a big loss.
Liam Williams
Sherratt has put an emphasis on the importance of experience this summer and it would have been beneficial if Williams was fit to tour.
But unfortunately the 34-year-old remains sidelined after undergoing knee surgery in February leaving Cardiff’s Cameron Winnett and the Scarlets’ Blair Murray to fight it out for the full-back berth.
Sam Parry
Parry has been playing regularly for the Ospreys but at 33 his international days are numbered.
The powerful hooker has never let Wales down but Sherratt is a big fan of Belcher who is his club captain at Cardiff, while Dewi Lake is the clear first choice and Elliot Dee is as reliable as they come.
Kemsley Mathias
The 25-year-old had a good start to the season and was involved in both the autumn and Six Nations squad.
But Mathias picked up a calf injury against the Stormers in March and missed a good chunk of rugby for the Scarlets.
The Pembrokeshire man returned to take his place on the bench in South Africa but scrum coach Adam Jones clearly sees something in uncapped Ospreys prop Garyn Phillips.
Christ Tshiunza
The 22-year-old’s omission is a bit of a shock given the can cover both second-row and blindside flanker.
But Tshiunza has not kicked on from his outstanding performances on last summer’s summer tour of Australia.
The fact he plays in an Exeter Chiefs side which has struggled to win all season won’t have helped his cause.
Jac Morgan
Not much explanation needed here.
Morgan is absent because he is one of only two Welsh players selected for the Lions tour of Australia which clashes with Wales’ trip to Japan.
The 25-year-old is Wales’ best player but openside flanker is a rare position of strength with Tommy Reffell and Josh Macleod capable deputies.
Josh Hathaway
The 21-year-old flyer has missed the last few Gloucester fixtures with an ankle injury.
Hathaway made his Test debut against Australia last summer and has been a regular in the wider squad of late.
But his injury won’t have helped his cause with Sherratt opting to go with Keelan Giles, Tom Rogers and Josh Adams.
Will Rowlands
The experienced second-row was out of sorts during the autumn internationals and the Six Nations and has paid the price.
Rowlands has been playing regularly for Parisian club Racing 92 in the unforgiving Top 14, so could probably do with the summer off to recharge the batteries.
But while he may not have been at his best of late he is one of the only locks with the power needed for the top end of the international game.
Gareth Anscombe
The 34-year-old has been playing well for Gloucester and was called up by Sherratt middway through the Six Nations.
But Anscombe – who will join French club Bayonne next season – is nearing the end of his career with Sherratt opting for youth in Dan Edwards and Sam Costelow, while Ben Thomas can also cover 10.
“It was more around Dan Edwards, he was involved in the Six Nations,” said Sherratt. “It’s time to look forward with him.
“Sam Costelow missed the Six Nations, so it’s getting him up to speed.”
Eddie James
The 22-year-old is a big prospect, of that there is no doubt, but he has been left out of the Scarlets matchday 23 for the last few games.
James has missed out due to his lack of game time, with Johnny Williams, who has been on fire for the Scarlets, taking his place.
Ellis Bevan
The 25-year-old has been out of favour at Cardiff with Sherratt opting to select South African Johan Mulder and the experienced Aled Davies ahead of him.
With that in mind it is no surprise he has not been included in this squad.
Kieran Hardy has been playing the best rugby of his career of late while Ospreys scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams deserves an opportunity.
James Botham
This is arguably the most eye-catching omission because Botham has been one of Wales’ better players throughout what has been a wretched season.
The 27-year-old has also been playing well for Cardiff which makes this a bit of a head scratcher.
But having said that, Tommy Reffell is a proven international-class performer while Josh Macleod has been outstanding for the Scarlets this season.
Nick Tompkins
The 30-year-old remains an ever present figure in the Saracens midfield and has been a regular for Wales since making his debut under Wayne Pivac in 2020.
Tompkins is an experienced campaigner but perhaps does not fit the mould of centre Sherratt wants in his backline.
Johnny Williams has the physical presence to get over the gain-line, while Ben Thomas is a lovely footballer and Macs Page is a nod to the future.
His days playing for Wales arguably look bleak.
Jarrod Evans
When Sherratt took the role midway through the Six Nations he called the Harlequins playmaker up immediately.
Evans showed flashes of brilliance as a replacement in difficult circumstances during the final three games of the Six Nations. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
But Sherratt confirmed in his press conference that Evans is presently injured.
Henry Thomas
The former England prop is currently the form tighthead in Welsh rugby and has been outstanding for the Scarlets of late, particularly at the set-piece.
But the WRU have confirimed Thomas will needs to seek specialist opinion on a long-term condition this summer, so won’t be available to tour.
Ben Warren
Both Gatland and former Ospreys head coach Toby Booth saw Warren as a player with huge potential.
The 25-year-old has shown promise for the Ospreys, especially, around the park but remains a work in progress at scrum time.
Adam Jones has decided to take a look at uncapped Dragons tighthead Chris Coleman instead.
Owen Watkin
The Ospreys midfielder figured regularly under Gatland and is an underrated player with his solidity in defence, low error count, and his carrying game very useful at international level.
But the 28-year-old is sidelined until the start of next season after undergoing a serious knee injury during Wales’ Six Nations defeat to France in January.
