Five Dragons face England in Summer Series

02/08/2023

Head coach Warren Gatland has named his Wales senior men’s XV for the Vodafone Summer Series match against England this Saturday at Principality Stadium (5 August, kick-off 5.30pm) - and he names five Dragons in his match day squad.

Rio Dyer, Will Rowlands and Aaron Wainwright all start while Elliot Dee and Ben Carter are named among the replacements.

Leigh Halfpenny is named at fullback and due to win his 100th Wales cap, having made his senior international debut on the wing against South Africa on 8 November 2008 while a teenager. Halfpenny was awarded his 50th cap against Ireland in the 2014 Six Nations, becoming the youngest Welsh men’s player to do so at the time. George North – who will start at centre on Saturday – broke that record a year later.

Keiron Assiratti (tighthead prop), Corey Domachowski (loosehead prop) and Max Llewellyn (centre) are all selected in the starting XV for their first senior Wales caps.

Henry Thomas and Taine Plumtree, named among the replacements, are also in line to make their senior Wales debuts this weekend.

Jac Morgan starts at openside flanker and is named captain for this fixture – his first time for the senior side after previously captaining Wales at U20 level.

Joining Morgan in the back row are Christ Tshiunza (blindside flanker) and Wainwright (No. 8). Dafydd Jenkins and Rowlands pair up together in the second row. Rowlands makes his first Wales appearance since injury last autumn, as does Ryan Elias who returns to the starting line up at hooker.

Gareth Davies starts at scrum-half with Scarlets’ teammate Sam Costelow at fly-half. Dyer and Louis Rees-Zammit complete the starting line-up on the wings.

Dee, Nicky Smith and Carter join Henry Thomas and Plumtree as the forward cover among the replacements. R

ounding out the match day 23, covering the Wales back line, are Tomos Williams, Dan Biggar and Mason Grady.

Gatland said: “I’ve been really pleased with the players’ effort and commitment in Turkey, Switzerland and the mini camps in Wales prior, but now it’s about putting what we’ve been training into practice.

“We’re excited to get out on pitch at Principality Stadium this Saturday – it’s always so special playing at home in front of our amazing fans.

“There is some great competition among the squad in all positions and we’ve selected a team this week with a few debutants, because we want to give them the opportunity to see what they can do. There’s a lot to play for over the next three matches and everyone is still in contention to make that final squad for France."

Tickets for the match are available from WRU.WALES/TICKETS

Wales senior men’s XV to play England in the 2023 Vodafone Summer Series:

15. Leigh Halfpenny (unattached / heb glwb – 99 caps)

14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – 25 caps)

13. George North (Ospreys / Gweilch – 113 caps)

12. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – uncapped / heb gap)

11. Rio Dyer (Dragons / Dreigiau – 7 caps)

10. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 2 caps) 9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 67 caps)

1. Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – uncapped / heb gap)

2. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 33 caps)

3. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – uncapped / heb gap)

4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 6 caps)