- Hathaway had represented both England and Wales in junior Championships
- He scored a hat-trick for the England Under-20’s against Scotland in 2023
- Hathaway committed to Wales in 2024 and has earned three caps to date
Former England Under-20 wing Josh Hathaway is in line to face the country with which he starred at junior level with Wales facing up to a wing injury crisis.
The two historic rivals meet in Cardiff on Six Nations ‘Super Saturday’ with England having an outside chance of title success. Wales, meanwhile, need a win to not only end their ongoing 16-Test losing run, but also avoid finishing bottom without a win for the second successive year.
Wales on Monday confirmed wings Tom Rogers and Josh Adams won’t be fit for England due to a fractured thumb and hamstring injury respectively.
It means that Gloucester’s Hathaway, 21, is now a leading contender for a back-line spot at Principality Stadium. Hathaway was born in Wales. But he wore a white shirt as well as a red one at Under-20 level, representing both Wales and England in successive junior Championships.
In 2023, Hathaway scored a hat-trick for England’s Under-20’s against Scotland in just 15 minutes.
However, in the summer of 2024 he committed to Wales at senior level, making his full Test debut in Australia.
Wales’ wing Josh Hathaway is in line to face England in the Six Nations on ‘Super Saturday’
Hathaway starred for England in the Junior Championships in 2023 before committing to Wales
Hathaway side could be Matt Sherratt’s most likely move to replace the injured Tom Rogers
If he faces England, it will be Hathaway’s fourth cap.
Interim head coach Matt Sherratt will take charge of Wales for the last time against England and will be forced into making at least one change to his side from the one beaten by Scotland after Rogers was forced off early in Edinburgh. The Scarlets back will need surgery to fix the problem.
Bringing Hathaway in is the most likely move to replace Rogers, but Sherratt could also start Joe Roberts out wide. Another option would be to start Eddie James, Nick Tompkins or Roberts at centre and move another Gloucester player in Max Llewellyn to the wing.
‘There’s definitely no greater motivation for a Welsh side than playing against an England team going for something,’ said Wales assistant coach Neil Jenkins.
‘It’s the game everyone dreams of playing in as a young kid. I certainly did when I was growing up. It’s a massive game and that never changes. We’ve been struggling of late in terms of results and England have won their three home games in this Championship.
‘They are well coached and are full of quality players. They’ll be looking forward to coming here because they’ve got something to play for. But we’ve also got something to play for.
‘There aren’t many bigger games, if any, for us than Wales against England in Cardiff.’
