Wales lose another player for Nations Championship on eve of BaaBaas

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.

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.

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

31 - 33

Full-time

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)