The big Wales question Steve Tandy is reluctant to answer

Jac Morgan may be poised to make his Wales comeback this summer but head coach Steve Tandy insists the race for the captaincy remains open.

Morgan missed the entire Six Nations after dislocating his shoulder in the 2025 autumn opener against Argentina, forcing him to miss eight Tests, but he returned for the Ospreys in March.

The British and Irish Lions flanker was skipper until injury struck with Dewi Lake taking over and the Gloucester-bound Ospreys are among the players being considered to lead Wales against the Barbarians, Fiji, Argentina and South Africa in June and July.

“For us, it’s about having a really good think about it. Jac’s up and running and we’ve got some really good leaders coming through,” Tandy said

“We have Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake, Dafydd Jenkins, Tomos Williams. We’ll have a chat with the boys. Dewi captained the side well.

“Jac’s a world-class player and a world-class bloke. You see what it means to him playing rugby. It’s brilliant for him to be back playing and it’s awesome for us as a nation.”

Morgan features in an extended 48-man squad for a summer schedule that opens against the Barbarians at Allianz Stadium on June 27, after which the number of players will be reduced.

Lake and Williams are included despite carrying injuries, but Tandy expects them to be available.

Among a group of six uncapped players is Exeter back row Kane James, who was born and raised in Wales but played for England Under-20s in 2024, winning the age group’s world championships that same year.

James, who can play across the back row, appeared for Wales at Under-18 level and is now celebrating his first senior call up.

“Kane’s Welsh and he’s a very smart and focused man. We are excited by how motivated he is to play for us,” Tandy said.

Completing the uncapped contingent are Cardiff prop Rhys Barratt, Dragons back rows Harrison Keddie and Ryan Woodman, Ospreys prop Ben Warren and Harlequins centre Bryn Bradley.

Tomas Francis, the 34-year-old Sale-bound Provence tighthead, has been given the summer off with next year’s World Cup in mind while Archie Griffin is to undergo elective surgery.

Wales play Fiji in Cardiff, travel to San Juan to take on Argentina a week later before closing the campaign against South Africa in Durban.

The fixtures form part of the inaugural Nations Championship which sees southern hemisphere team head to Europe in the autumn for the second phase that culminates in a final at Twickenham.

“It’s a huge ask for the players, but it’s an exciting challenge. We’re trying to grow the depth and we do feel we’re building cohesion in this team,” Tandy said.