Louis Rees-Zammit makes his first start for Wales in the Six Nations since 2023 at fullback as Steve Tandy names his squad for the first match of the 2026 Men’s Six Nations.

Rees-Zammit returned to the Wales set up in the autumn, playing once off the bench against Argentina and twice on the wing against Japan and New Zealand. His shift to fullback opens up a spot for Ellis Mee, who made his Wales debut against Ireland in last year’s competition.

Wales travel to England on Saturday for the first match of the campaign at the Allianz Stadium.

Returning tighthead prop Tomas Francis makes the bench, with Archie Griffin taking the starting berth. Nicky Smith and captain Dewi Lake make up the front row, while Rhys Carre and Liam Belcher are their replacements respectively.

Regular second row partners Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard line up together once again, while Alex Mann, Josh Macleod and Aaron Wainwright make up the back row.

Tomos Williams and Dan Edwards are Tandy’s first choice half back partnership and continue once again, while there is a change in the centres, with Eddie James of Scarlets slots in at outside centre in place of the injured Max Llewellyn.

Ben Thomas gets the nod ahead of Joe Hawkins at inside centre. Veteran wing Josh Adams makes up the back three alongside Mee and Rees-Zammit.

Tandy has opted for a 6-2 bench split, with Ben Carter, Taine Plumtree, and Harri Deaves forming the forward replacements alongside the aforementioned front row options.

Scrumhalf Kieran Hardy and the returning Mason Grady are the only back-ups for the backs division.

Teams

England

Freddie Steward; Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Henry Arundell; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Jamie George (capt), Joe Heyes; Alex Coles, Ollie Chessum; Guy Pepper, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.

Replacements

Luke Cowan-Dickie, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, Henry Pollock, Ben Spencer, Marcus Smith.

Wales

Louis Rees-Zammit; Ellis Mee, Eddie James, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Dan Edwards, Tomos Williams; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake (capt), Archie Griffin; Dafydd Jenkins Adam Beard; Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements

Liam Belcher, Rhys Carre, Tomas Francis, Ben Carter, Taine Plumtree, Harri Deaves, Kieran Hardy, Mason Grady

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