Matt Sherratt has named his Wales 23 to face Japan in the first of two summer tests, with Dewi Lake captaining the side in Kitakyushu.

Josh Macleod returns to the red of Wales for the first time since the autumn of 2022 after an excellent season with Scarlets.

Macleod’s Scarlets teammate, Sam Costelow, and Ospreys scrumhalf Kieran Hardy partner each other at halfback, having also recently returned to the squad.

Alex Mann is selected at blindside flanker and Taulupe Faletau completes the back row at No. 8.

Ben Carter missed the 2025 Six Nations through injury, and makes his international comeback alongside Teddy Williams in the second row. Either side of Lake in the front row are Nicky Smith and Keiron Assiratti at loosehead and tighthead respectively.

Johnny Williams is selected at outside centre, having last featured for Wales at Rugby World Cup 2023. Ben Thomas partners Williams in the midfield.

Josh Adams and Tom Rogers are selected on the wings, while Blair Murray completes the starting XV at fullback.

There is a six-two split among the Wales replacements.

Hooker Liam Belcher is in line to make his Wales debut off the bench. Archie Griffin, who missed the Six Nations due to injury, provides cover at tighthead prop and Gareth Thomas is the cover at loosehead prop.

James Ratti, Aaron Wainwright and Tommy Reffell provide the remaining forward cover. Rhodri Williams and Joe Roberts are the replacement backs.

“We’ve had a very good build-up,” Sherratt said of his Wales selection. “We tried to give everyone a fair chance of selection.

“One of the key messages was it’s going to be a 23-man job. So, we’ve tried to spread the experience out in terms of getting some experience coming off the bench. I think an 80-minute performance, that physical edge and making sure that we transfer training into the game is going to be the biggest thing for us.

“It’s going to be humid. It’s going to be hot. Japan traditionally play quite a fast brand of rugby, so us getting up to speed with that is going to be key. We’ve seen from just being around Kitakyushu this last week, there seems to be a real affinity between some of the Japanese locals and the Welsh team. Hopefully it will be fantastic on Saturday.

“Something we made a big point of in the first team meeting. There’s a number of players who’ve worked their way back into the squad.

“Josh Macleod is an obvious one. He’s struggled with some injuries, had a real rollercoaster over the last three or four years, so him coming back in is massive.

“I think you could tell from the players’ reaction when Liam Belcher was selected how much he deserves it.

“He’s been in the regional game for 10 years, changed clubs. He’s gone back to university to do an electrician’s degree and then he’s managed to work his way into the national squad. So yeah, delighted for Liam.”

Eddie Jones gives eight debuts

Veteran Michael Leitch, 36, will captain Japan and is the only member of the squad who has more than 50 caps. Leitch has featured in four World Cups and played 87 internationals for the Brave Blossoms.

Head coach Jones says Japan were without about 15 players as he named eight uncapped internationals in his matchday 23.

Prop Yota Kamimori and wing Kippei Ishida, who Jones says can be a Japan version of South Africa double World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe, will both make international debuts, while there are six new potential caps on the replacements bench.

Teams

Japan

Takuro Matsunaga; Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Shogo Nakano, Malo Tuitama; Seungsin Lee, Shinobu Fujiwara; Yota Kamimori, Mamoru Harada, Shuhei Takeuchi, Epineri Uluiviti, Warner Deans, Michael Leitch (capt), Jack Cornelsen, Amato Fakatava.

Replacements

Hayate Era, Sena Kimura, Keijiro Tamefusa, Waisake Raratubua, Ben Gunter, Shuntaro Kitamura, Ichigo Nakakusu, Halatoa Vailea.

Wales

Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Sam Costelow, Kieran Hardy; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake (capt), Keiron Assiratti, Ben Carter, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements

Liam Belcher, Gareth Thomas, Archie Griffin, James Ratti, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Rhodri Williams, Joe Roberts.

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