Steve Tandy has been dealt a massive blow ahead of the inaugural Nations Championship as Dafydd Jenkins is missing from the trimmed down 33-player squad.

Jenkins captained Exeter Chiefs and scored a try in their PREM final defeat to Northampton two weeks ago, but suffered a shoulder injury in that game, ruling him out of the summer tests against Fiji, Argentina, and South Africa.

The 23-year-old is not in Steve Tandy’s 33-strong squad which has been reduced from the original 48 named in May by the Wales head coach.

Jenkins, who started all five Six Nations fixtures, suffered a blow in the Prem final and needs surgery.

Elsewhere in the squad, Ospreys prop Ben Warren and Jenkins’ Exeter teammate Kane James are the only two uncapped players retained in the group.

Tandy’s side start the tournament against Fiji at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, 4 July before away Tests against Argentina and South Africa.

Wales beat the Barbarians 31-33 at Twickenham in an uncapped fixture, with Warren, Rhys Barratt, Harrison Keddie, and Ryan Woodman all getting their first tastes of international rugby.

Wings Gabriel Hamer-Webb and Tom Rogers, centres Bryn Bradley and Joe Roberts, fly-half Jarrod Evans, scrum-half Ellis Bevan, lock Freddie Thomas and back-row forward Olly Cracknell also miss out.

Having been out in the cold for much of Tandy’s time in charge of Wales, Tommy Reffell is amongst the flankers.

“We have selected a squad of 33 players for the Nations Championship to mirror what will be required for the World Cup in 2027,” said the head coach, who cut 11 players and lost Jenkins.

“We are building a lot of competition among our group of players, which is what we want to have, and there were some tough calls to make.

“We have an exciting opportunity over the next three weeks in a brand-new competition and can’t wait to get our campaign started against Fiji on Saturday.”

Despite the blow of losing Jenkins, Tandy is able to welcome in a host of English-based players to his squad, following the opening of the summer international window.

Louis Rees-Zammit, Max Llewellyn, Tomos Williams, Rhys Carre, Nicky Smith, James and Reffell all could not face the Baa-Baas but will likely play important roles this summer.

The loss of Jenkins means that Tandy is down to three specialist locks – Ben Carter, Teddy Williams and Adam Beard.

“We’re really disappointed to lose Daf as a player and a person he’s a massive part of this squad,” said attack coach Matt Sherratt.

“He is one of the linchpins of the pack and epitomises what a Welsh forward looks like, he is all in.

“It’s a big loss but it’s something that he needed to have done.”

Wales had already lost centre Louie Hennessey, tight-head prop Keiron Assiratti and hooker Liam Belcher to injury before cutting down their squad.

Wales Squad for Nations Championship

Backs: Blair Murray, Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams, Mason Grady, Ellis Mee, Joe Hawkins, Eddie James, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Sam Costelow, Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Tomos Williams.

Forwards: Rhys Carre, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Ryan Elias, Dewi Lake (capt), Evan Lloyd, Dillon Lewis, Sam Wainwright, Ben Warren, Adam Beard, Ben Carter, Teddy Williams, James Botham, Kane James, Alex Mann, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright.

If you want to read more pieces from Sportin Wales, why not read to our monthly magazine here or subscribe to the magazine and newsletter at https://sportin.wales/subscribe/.

Our podcast is back for the new season and our co-founder Alex Cuthbert is in charge! You can find all the episodes here or the video versions on our YouTube channel.

You can also keep track of our pieces and videos on our socials at @Sportin_Wales on X or Sportin Wales on Instagram and Facebook.