Wales men’s head coach Wayne Pivac has named four Dragons in his 35-player squad for the 2022 Autumn Nations Series.
Rhodri Jones earns a recall while Will Rowlands, Ben Carter and uncapped Rio Dyer have all been named ahead of the four test series this November.
Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens and Justin Tipuric are back for international duty more than a year after they last appeared for their country.
Other familiar faces returning to the Wales squad this autumn are Jac Morgan (Ospreys) and Rhys Priestland (Cardiff Rugby) who were last called up for the 2022 Guinness Six Nations; loosehead props Rhodri Jones (Dragons) and Nicky Smith (Ospreys) who feature for the first time since the summer 2021 campaign and Exeter Chiefs’ Christ Tshiunza, who made his senior international debut last November.
There are five uncapped players selected. After helping Wales reach the final of the U20 Summer Series in July alongside Tshiunza, Joe Hawkins (Ospreys) receives his first senior international call up.
Also named in the Wales men’s squad for the first time are Rio Dyer (Dragons) as well as Dane Blacker and Sam Costelow (both Scarlets). Josh Macleod is also included after previously being selected in the 2020 Autumn Nations Series and 2021 Guinness Six Nations squads.
Pivac said: “It’s great to have Ken, Justin and Leigh back after long-term injuries. They are three great players who have served Wales very well. They are all British and Irish Lions so quality players. We’re excited to have them in the squad for obvious reasons. We have a number of young players in this squad so it will be great for them to rub shoulders with these experienced ones.”
Talking about the uncapped players in the squad, Pivac added: “There’s a lot of young players we’ve been keeping an eye on for a number of years through the age group system and now playing club rugby. There’s a view of the here and now in this squad but also beyond Rugby World Cup 2023 to the tournament in 2027, so there’s some young guys getting the opportunity to taste the camp environment. They may or may not get game time, but it will be a great experience for them.
“Dane Blacker has been playing well at nine for the Scarlets. We know a lot about Gareth (Davies) it’s not the end of the road for Gareth, I’ve spoken to him. Sam Costelow is another young player at the Scarlets playing well and having come through the age grade system. Joe Hawkins is the same, he captained the U20s so he’s a player for the future. Rio Dyer came into camp ahead of the South Africa Test Series to help the squad prepare and performed well. He’s currently playing really well for the Dragons.
“Josh Macleod is an interesting one. He’s been selected in a couple of camps before. Unfortunately he was injured before coming in playing for the Scarlets, then we actually named him to play in a Six Nations game against Scotland and he ruptured his Achilles in training which was devastating for him. He’s a guy that’s been on our radar for some time and to get him into the squad and have another look at him, we’re excited for Josh.
Regarding the captaincy, Pivac said: “For us it’s about finalising the squad today and then we’ll look closely at who’s going to lead the side. We have quite a few options with a lot of experience in the squad now. There’s probably an opportunity for more than one captain in this series.”
Wales will play Test matches on four consecutive Saturdays this November and Pivac is relishing the opportunity: “To have a stadium full of fans, teams like the All Blacks, Argentina, Georgia and Australia coming to town it’s going to be really exciting. I remember prior to taking this role, coming to Principality Stadium with those full crowds, with the bands, with all the atmosphere – it’s just tremendous and we can’t wait.
Wales’ Autumn Nations Series kicks off at 15:15h on Saturday 5 November against the All Blacks in the 37th meeting between the two sides.
Argentina is next up the following Saturday (12 November) at 17:30h. The Pumas are back after two visits to Principality Stadium last July, with more fans able to watch the action this time around following capped attendances in 2021 due to Covid.
The third round of the series sees Georgia return to Cardiff on Saturday 19 November for the first time since 2017, after the last meeting between the two sides was moved to Parc y Scarlets when the Principality Stadium became a field hospital in 2020. This fixture has entertained Welsh crowds on three previous occasions in total, including at Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.
The final match and climax of the 2022 Autumn Nations Series sees Wales and Australia compete for the James Bevan trophy on Saturday 26th November.
WALES SQUAD FOR 2022 AUTUMN NATIONS SERIES
Forwards (20)
Rhodri Jones (Dragons – 21 caps)
Nicky Smith (Ospreys – 41 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 13 caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 30 caps)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 8 caps)
Ken Owens (Scarlets – 87 caps)
Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 65 caps)
Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 41 caps)
Sam Wainwright (Saracens – 2 caps)
Adam Beard (Ospreys – 37 caps)
Ben Carter (Dragons Rugby – 6 caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys 153 caps)
Will Rowlands (Dragons Rugby – 21 caps)
Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 91 caps)
Dan Lydiate (Ospreys – 68 caps)
Josh MacLeod (Scarlets – uncapped)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 3 caps)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 3 caps)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys – 86 caps)
Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 2 caps)
Backs (15)
Dane Blacker (Scarlets – uncapped)
Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 14 caps)
Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 36 caps)
Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys – 32 caps)
Sam Costelow (Scarlets – uncapped)
Rhys Priestland (Cardiff Rugby – 52 caps)
Joe Hawkins – (Ospreys uncapped)
George North (Ospreys – 105 caps)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 23 caps)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 33 caps)
Josh Adams – (Cardiff Rugby – 42 caps)
Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 52 caps)
Rio Dyer (Dragons Rugby – uncapped)
Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets – 96 caps)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 19 caps)
Players unavailable for selection due to injury: Taine Basham, Dan Biggar, Leon Brown, Seb Davies, Wyn Jones, Josh Navidi, Johnny Williams, Liam Williams
