Wales Six Nations Squad Announced: Edwards And Mee IN, Dyer And Winnett OUT



Rhodri Evans

Warren Gatland has named his Wales squad for the 2025 Six Nations campaign, with Jac Morgan captaining the team and uncapped backs Ellis Mee and Dan Edwards included.

Edwards and Mee, both 21-years-old, have been the form players in the United Rugby Championship for club sides Ospreys and Scarlets respectively.

Blair Murray and Tom Rogers retain their places after positive Autumn International performances, while Sam Parry and Elliot Dee come into the squad in the absence of the injured Dewi Lake and Ryan Elias.

Ospreys back row Morgan is named as captain for a second straight Six Nations campaign, picked ahead of Dafydd Jenkins who captained Wales for the 2024 Six Nations campaign.

Wales being their Six Nations campaign on a Friday night in Saint Denis, taking on France at the Stade de France. France have won the last six meetings between the two nations, with Wales last victory in Paris coming as part of their 2019 Grand Slam winning campaign.

Forwards: John and Parry Selected

In the front row, regulars Gareth Thomas, Keiron Assiratti, Nicky Smith, and Henry Thomas are joined by Kemsley Mathias and WillGriff John.

It was previously thought that John, who signed for Sale Sharks in 2023, was ruled out of international consideration due to the 25-cap rule, but it seems he was not offered an adequate contract by a Welsh region upon leaving Scarlets in 2023.

Parry, Dee, and Cardiff hooker Evan Lloyd round out the front row options.

Sam Parry left the Wales squad last summer due to a reported falling out with Gatland, but returns now with Wales’s options in the number two jersey limited.

Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Freddie Thomas, Teddy Williams, and Christ Tshiunza are the options selected in the second row.

As well as Morgan, Taulupe Faletau is included after his recent return following a broken arm injury suffered at the start of the season. Regulars Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright and James Botham are also in. Taine Plumtree, a regular squad member throughout 2024, misses out

Backs: Costelow injured, Edwards and Mee in

In the backs, Sam Costelow’s injury has opened up a spot for uncapped Ospreys back Dan Edwards, who, with Ben Thomas, is the only flyhalf option. Gareth Anscombe is left out.

Thomas, who started at inside centre for Wales during the Autumn Internationals, may well be considered only as a flyhalf for this campaign. The other centre options include Owen Watkin, Eddie James, Joe Roberts, and Nick Tompkins. Max Llewellyn misses out after featuring during the Autumn Internationals

With Mason Grady out injured, the back three selection proved to have a few surprises, with the experienced Liam Williams returning alongside Josh Adams, Josh Hathaway, and Scarlets duo Tom Rogers and Blair Murray.

Uncapped Scarlets wing Ellie Mee is also included at the expense of regulars Rio Dyer and Cam Winnett.

Squad:

Forwards:

Kemsley Mathias, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee, Evan Lloyd, Sam Parry, Henry Thomas, WillGriff John, Keiron Assiratti,  Dafydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Freddie Thomas, Teddy Williams, Christ Tshiunza, James Botham, Tommy Reffell, Jac Morgan, Taulupe Faletau, Aaron Wainwright.

Backs:

Liam Williams, Tom Rogers, Blair Murray, Josh Adams, Josh Hathaway, Ellis Mee*, Eddie James, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Joe Roberts, Ben Thomas, Dan Edwards*, Rhodri Williams, Ellis Bevan, Tomos Williams.

* Uncapped

Wales Six Nations Fixtures:

France vs Wales

Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Friday 31st January, 20:15 

Italy vs Wales

Stadio Olympico, Rome, 8th February, 14:15 

Wales vs Ireland

Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 22nd February, 14:15 

Scotland vs Wales

Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, 8th March, 16:45 

Wales vs England

Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 15th March, 16:45 


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