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Wales lose another player for Nations Championship on eve of BaaBaas

Tomos Williams of Wales speaks with teammate Liam Belcher of Wales following the Quilter Nations Series 2025 rugby international match between Wales and Japan at Principality Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Huw Fairclough/Getty Images)
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Wales hooker Liam Belcher has become the latest player to withdraw from their squad for the Nations Championship campaign due to a neck injury sustained in Cardiff’s United Rugby Championship defeat to the Stormers.

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The 30-year-old picked up the injury in the second half of the 44-21 loss in Cape Town and has failed to recover in time to feature for his country against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa in July.

The fallout from Cardiff’s loss to the Stormers continues for Wales, as Keiron Assiratti was also forced to withdraw from the squad with a calf injury.

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Wales take on the Barbarians on Saturday at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, meaning head coach Steve Tandy may be forced into a rejig of his squad.

No replacement has been called up yet by Wales, although they will actually line up against 55-cap Welshman Elliot Dee on Saturday, who will don the No.2 jersey in black and white.

Fixture
Rugby Union Hybrid Friendlies
Barbarians
06:00
27 Jun 26
Wales
All Stats and Data

Updated Wales squad
Fowards:
Rhys Barratt (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
Adam Beard (Montpellier – 65 caps)
James Botham (Cardiff Rugby – 21 caps)
Rhys Carre (Saracens – 28 caps)
Ben Carter (Dragons – 19 caps)
Olly Cracknell (Leicester Tigers – 5 caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 48 caps)
Kane James (Exeter Chiefs – uncapped)
Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 31 caps)
Harrison Keddie (Dragons – uncapped)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 31 caps)
Dillon Lewis (Dragons – 57 caps)
Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby – 8 caps)
Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – 16 caps)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 24 caps)
Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 14 caps)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 29 caps)
Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 63 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 44 caps)
Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby – 8 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 67 caps)
Sam Wainwright (Cardiff Rugby – 4 caps)
Ben Warren (Ospreys – uncapped)
Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 8 caps)
Ryan Woodman (Dragons – uncapped)

Backs:
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 70 caps)
Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Rugby – 6 caps)
Bryn Bradley (Harlequins – uncapped)
Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 20 caps)
Dan Edwards (Ospreys – 11 caps)
Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 17 caps)
Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 17 caps)
Kieran Hardy (Ospreys – 31 caps)
Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester Tigers – 1 cap)
Joe Hawkins (Scarlets – 11 caps)
Eddie James (Scarlets – 9 caps)
Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 11 caps)
Ellis Mee (Scarlets – 8 caps)
Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys – 2 caps)
Blair Murray (Scarlets – 16 caps)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears – 40 caps)
Joe Roberts (Scarlets – 7 caps)
Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 13 caps)
Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 18 caps)
Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 72 caps)

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EvilMockingJay 1 hour ago
Antoine Dupont missing for now as Galthie names 33-man France squad

Oh yeah, i was meaning 8 in the starting 15 at Toulouse in top14. Wasn’t counting bench or CC or 6N ^^. That’s partly why I told you Galthié did not learn from what happened in 2023. When Dupont became available, bam, your going to Marcoussis. Like man, let him play with his club for a bit first don't trow him against national teams right away... Exactly the same situation as 2023…

I already know what is going to happen in 2027. Last (or the one before, you know, i don't see japanese team doing such a dirty move, but samoa ? Oh yeah, i’m clearly seeing that coming) pool match Dupont will get hit and will be out of the competition with another big injury. Probably not going to happen for NTK, because without Dupont he’s just not at international level at all and everyone saw it. Meaning will get something like Lucu (or Le Garrec)/NTK (because he wants so badly NTK on the field) and we will loose. Again. Lucu, Le Garrec, Jauneau and Jalibert—they’re nothing more than stopgaps for Galthié. He just wants Dupont and NTK, and that’s it. He’d make them play against the Boks or the All Blacks even on one leg. That’s pretty sad being unable to work with 9 and 10 jersey considering we are the nation with the most of international 9s possible. And everyone (except Ben Smith the troll) envy us MJ at number 10… as you said i would love to see both ST and UBB half-backs in the same match but it ain't gonna happen. I’m not a fan of the idea too put MJ at number 15 (did he ever took that place even in his club ?), his talent is more the one of a real fly-half than a full back. Would be wasting both his talent as 10 and Ramos precision for conversions, but that’s only my opinion since we never saw him play 15, maybe i judge him to harsh. Ain’t a problem against Australia (they are in a really poor state) but facing the Boks ? Naah, too experimental.



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