Steve Tandy names 5 uncapped players in first Wales squad as Louis Rees-Zammit returns

Louis Rees-Zammit has been named in Steve Tandy’s 39-man Wales squad for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series.

The 24-year-old marked his return to rugby at the beginning of the season, joining the Bristol Bears after 18 months in the NFL. In that time, Wales have only managed one victory.

The winger will join a squad that has five uncapped players: Dragons hooker Brodie Coghlan, Ospreys second-row James Fender and back-row Morgan Morse, Cardiff loosehead prop Danny Southworth and Bath Rugby centre Louie Hennessey.

Jac Morgan will return to captain the side having missed Wales’ series with Japan over the summer while he was with the British & Irish Lions.

Wales face a tricky November, which will see them host Argentina, Japan, the All Blacks and South Africa.

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“It’s been really exciting going through the whole process and realising how many good players we’ve got,” said Tandy. “We’ve got to the decision of the selection, which we are really happy with.

“There’s a really good mix of some young guys coming in, mixed with some experience as well. But the overall feeling is really exciting and I can’t wait to get the boys into camp on Monday.

“When we come in Monday, obviously there’s new coaches, it’s a new time and there are some new faces in and around the playing group as well. So first and foremost, it’s about getting us connected and getting us nice and tight in around what we want to be through this Quilter Nations Series, getting clarity on our identity and our game model.”

Wales squad
Forwards (22)
Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 15 caps)
Adam Beard (Montpellier – 58 caps)
Liam Belcher (Cardiff Rugby – 2 caps)
Rhys Carre (Saracens – 20 caps)
Ben Carter (Dragons – 13 caps)
Brodie Coghlan (Dragons – uncapped)
Christian Coleman (Dragons – 1 cap)
Rhys Davies (Ospreys – 3 caps)
Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 109 caps)
James Fender (Ospreys – uncapped)
Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby – 8 caps)
Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 23 caps)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 22 caps)
Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – 7 caps)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 23 caps)
Morgan Morse (Ospreys – uncapped)
Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 8 caps)
Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 56 caps)
Danny Southworth (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 42 caps)
Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby – 4 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 59 caps)

Backs (17)
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 63 caps)
Jacob Beetham (Cardiff Rugby – 1 cap)
Rio Dyer (Dragons – 23 caps)
Dan Edwards (Ospreys – 4 caps)
Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 11 caps)
Kieran Hardy (Ospreys – 25 caps)
Joe Hawkins (Scarlets – 5 caps)
Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby – uncapped)
Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 8 caps)
Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys – 1 cap)
Blair Murray (Scarlets – 10 caps)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears – 32 caps)
Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 11 caps)
Callum Sheedy (Cardiff Rugby – 16 caps)
Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 14 caps)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 41 caps)
Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 64 caps)