Ryan Woodman has been tipped to make next year’s World Cup – but which other uncapped players could join him?
12:00, 25 Feb 2026Updated 12:01, 25 Feb 2026
Bradley has been touted as a future Wales star(Image: Andrew Fosker/Shutterstock)
Uncapped Dragons forward Ryan Woodman has been tipped to be part of Wales’ World Cup squad in Australia next year.
The 22-year-old is already on Steve Tandy’s radar, having trained with the national team ahead of the Six Nations. The blindside flanker, who can also play second-row, could yet be called up to Wales’ squad in the next week, after Taine Plumtree was ruled out of the tournament.
But, whether he’s brought in now or not, the odds on him being in the mix for next year’s World Cup seem pretty good.
“He is a talent and I have no doubt that he will be in the group that goes to the World Cup,” Dragons defence coach Dale MacLeod told the BBC.
“It’s really important that we manage him and don’t get him there too early. He got the opportunity train with Wales and it’s so good when young men get a small taste of it.
“I think it’s critical that they get a taste rather than getting thrown in and it was great for him because he is a super talent.
“I believe he has the attributes to become world class, it’s just how we manage, grow and develop him.
“Steve and his coaching group are doing a great job and I love how they are growing the next lot of players.”
If Woodman looks a strong bet for next year’s World Cup, the question is who else could join him in Australia as a player yet to be capped?
Plotting the path of uncapped players isn’t an exact science. Back in 2018, some people in the game believed that a 17-year-old Carwyn Tuipulotu would be involved in the following year’s World Cup in Japan.
Looking back, it was obviously too soon, with the No. 8 still uncapped. But that is the nature of predicting how young players will reach their ceiling.
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Of course, the other thing is that few stones have been left unturned in recent years as Wales have looked to turn around their ailing fortunes on the pitch.
In more successful times, there might have been more untried players knocking around the Welsh game – but, right from the moment Warren Gatland picked a host of greenhorn players in the 2024 Six Nations, the conveyor belt from club to country has felt a little rushed.
Of those around yet to pick up a cap, someone like Cardiff front-row Rhys Barratt could be a contender to emerge ahead of next year’s World Cup.
The loosehead has some competition to break into the Wales mix. Right now, Rhys Carre and Nicky Smith are battling for the starting jersey, with 44-cap prop Gareth Thomas behind them.
There’s also the likes of Danny Southworth, Garyn Phillips and Kemsley Mathias to consider.
But 24-year-old Barratt has been impressive this season, while last year he was called in as travelling reserve for Wales’ Six Nations clash with Ireland.
Moving through the pack, second-row is a position where competition is perhaps a little scarce.
In fairness to Ben Carter, he took his chance when replacing Adam Beard alongside Dafydd Jenkins on the weekend.
Teddy Williams is still on the comeback trail from injury, while the likes of Rhys Davies, Freddie Thomas and James Fender are second-row options.
But if there is a need for Wales to strengthen their second-row stock sooner rather than later, then impressive U20s duo Luke Evans and Osian Williams could force their way into contention at some point.
Given the performances of the U20s in this year’s Six Nations, it’s easy to look at many as future internationals.
Tom Bowen, for example, seems like a case of when, rather than if, and is attracting interest from top French clubs.
Tom Bowen of Cardiff(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Co-captain Deian Gwynne has earned rave reviews, too.
The Aberystwyth product has been simply superb – with the Gloucester back-rower picking up the player of the match award in the win over Scotland last Friday.
His fellow co-captain, Cardiff centre Steffan Emanuel, looks ready for more minutes at the Arms Park. Not only can he carry hard, but he just seems to have time on the ball – taking smart decisions time after time.
Others, like hooker Tom Howe and fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, look like internationals for the future.
But, as schoolboys, both deserve more time to learn the ropes at age-grade before graduating to the Test game.
Instead, perhaps it’s worth looking at previous U20s teams to see who the next uncapped player might be.
Harlequins centre Bryn Bradley was part of the same U20s team in 2022 as Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Dan Edwards and Joe Hawkins. The aforementioned Barratt was also involved in that side.
Recently, the 22-year-old – who also qualifies for England – has put in some impressive performances at the Stoop. Sources suggest that they haven’t gone unnoticed by those in the English set-up.
In a slightly more recent vintage, Aidan Boshoff was part of last year’s U20s team. The Bristol Bears wing looks to have everything you need to make it in the Test game.
Bears director of rugby Pat Lam has already marked out his work-rate and fearlessness as key traits.