The Rugby World Cup is a year away and Steve Tandy’s strongest team is starting to take shape
The Rugby World Cup is just a year away now (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
It is almost a year to the day until Wales kick-off their Rugby World Cup campaign against Zimbabwe at the Adelaide Oval.
Steve Tandy will already have a good idea of the squad he’d like to take to Australia in a year’s time but there is still a chance for players to force their way into contention.
As things stand, though, this is the matchday 23 Tandy is likely to select in Australia next year. It’s up to them to try and hold on to the jerseys.
15. Blair Murray
The Scarlets full-back was overlooked during the Six Nations, with Steve Tandy opting to experiment with Louis Rees-Zammit at No 15.
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That plan was abandoned for the summer’s Nations Championship, when Murray started all three of Wales’ matches and established himself as first choice heading into the 2026-27 season.
Questions remain over Murray’s lack of height and his vulnerability under the high ball but he is a powerful broken-field runner, an instinctive attacker and a player capable of turning possession into something dangerous.
14. Louis Rees-Zammit
The Bristol Bears flyer may not have hit the same heights since returning from professional American football, but he remains one of the first names on Tandy’s team sheet.
He was relegated to the bench against Argentina in the summer but in a big World Cup match Rees-Zammit starts.
With the full-back experiment shelved Wales will look to get him into space on the wing where his pace can tear open defences.
13. Eddie James
There are many experts who are adamant James would be far more effective at inside centre where he could be used to get over the gainline in much the same manner as Jamie Roberts did for years.
But Tandy and his attack coach Matt Sherratt have persisted with James at outside centre and it is hard to see that changing over the next year.
Wales must find a way to harness James’ explosive power more effectively at 13.
12. Joe Hawkins
There is an argument that Wales should ditch the second playmaker plan by selecting a more direct 12 like Eddie James or Bryn Bradley to get over the gainline.
But attack coach Sherratt has always favoured this style of play and it would be a shock if Wales changed their attacking philosophy this season.
Ben Thomas started in Wales’ most recent outing, a 43-0 defeat to South Africa in Durban, but Hawkins started the previous seven Test matches before that.
11. Josh Adams
The 31-year-old remains the favourite to start under Tandy. Although he may no longer possess the searing pace of his younger years, Adams offers considerable experience, defensive solidity and assurance under the high ball.
He will face stiff competition from Mason Grady, Ellis Mee, Rio Dyer and Tom Rogers but his reliability and experience makes him the leading candidate to start.
10. Dan Edwards
The number 10 jersey is not cut and dried with Sam Costelow also in the frame.
But Ospreys playmaker Edwards started 10 Test matches for Wales during the 2025/26 season, with Costelow held back by a series of frustrating injuries.
New Cardiff signing Jarrod Evans is also in the frame, while Callum Sheedy cannot be discounted, but Edwards is the leading contender to be Wales’ first choice 10 in Australia next year.
9. Tomos Williams
One of the first names on the team sheet.
Williams is by far the best scrum-half Wales have available to them and he will be a pivotal figure in Australia next year.
The 31-year-old is one of the better attacking nines in European rugby and his summer move to Saracens from Gloucester could take his game to another level.
8. Aaron Wainwright
The 28-year-old was Wales’ outstanding player last season and, provided he is fit, should be Tandy’s first-choice No 8 at the World Cup.
Wainwright is a dynamic, athletic ball-carrier, capable of consistently breaking the gainline and giving Wales valuable momentum in attack.
He has established himself as a talismanic figure for the side, and his move to English giants Leicester Tigers should benefit him.
7. Jac Morgan
The 26-year-old is one of only a handful of high-end international-class players Tandy has at his disposal.
Despite Wales’ struggles Morgan very rarely drops below an eight out of 10 and offers a huge amount to this Wales team.
The Gloucester openside is nailed on to start and a strong contender for the captaincy.
6. James Botham
The No 6 jersey is very much up for grabs.
Tandy admires Alex Mann’s tenacity and work rate, qualities underlined when he set a new Six Nations record with 33 tackles against Ireland.
Taine Plumtree and Olly Cracknell are also strong contenders to start, while James Botham produced a series of impressive performances last season and arguably offers the most complete package.
5. Ben Carter
The Dragons lock impressed when he stepped into the breach in Wales’ narrow Six Nations defeat by Scotland and has since moved ahead of Adam Beard in the pecking order.
Carter was entrusted with calling the lineout, while his work rate around the field is equally impressive. He gets through a huge amount of work and has emerged as a reliable presence in the second row.
At this stage, the shirt is his to lose.
4. Dafydd Jenkins
The Exeter Chiefs lock missed the summer’s Nations Championship fixtures through injury but, once fit, should slot straight back into the side this autumn.
Jenkins is a natural leader who gets through a mountain of work and provides Wales with the physical edge they need in the second row.
Assuming he remains fit, he looks nailed on to start at the World Cup.
3. Tomas Francis
Francis will be 35 by the time the World Cup comes around but remains the most likely first-choice tighthead for Wales.
He is still a dependable scrummager and tighthead props have a habit of extending their careers well into their 30s.
But Wales’ continued reliance on Francis also underlines the lack of quality scrummaging tightheads in Welsh rugby.
2. Dewi Lake (captain)
The Gloucester hooker was among Wales’ better performers last season, with his powerful carrying and authority at the set piece particularly impressive.
Lake has become a central figure in this Wales side and is the leading candidate to captain the team in Australia next year.
1. Rhys Carre
The Saracens prop enjoyed an impressive season and has become vital to this Wales side, not least because he is one of the few genuine ball carriers available to Tandy capable of making significant post-contact metres.
Carre captured hearts and minds with his sensational solo try in Dublin in March and on current form looks the clear favourite to start at loosehead at the World Cup.
Replacements16. Ryan Elias
The Scarlets hooker is a powerful carrier and a strong scrummager.
There will be pressure from the likes of Elliot Dee, Liam Belcher, Evan Lloyd and Brodie Coghlan but Elias is ahead of them all as things stand.
17. Nicky Smith
The Sale Sharks loosehead is a destructive scrummager and compliments Carre nicely.
18. Archie Griffin
With Tomas Francis starting Wales are likely to use the dynamic and mobile Griffin as a replacement early in the second half of games.
19. Teddy Williams
The Cardiff lock faces competition from the likes of Adam Beard and Freddie Thomas but his athleticism could see him get the nod.
20. Kane James
The Exeter Chiefs backrower has been described as a bundle of energy and could develop into a very effective impact player in the last quarter of a Test match.
21. Che Hope
As things stand Kieran Hardy and Reuben Morgan-Williams are ahead of him in the pecking order but Dragons scrum-half Hope could be the bolter.
The 23-year-old is an explosive attacking player who is very dangerous with ball in hand.
22. Sam Costelow
The Scarlets playmaker will have his sights set on the starting number 10 jersey but if he’s fit he will at least be in the 23.
23. Mason Grady
The Cardiff man can play wing and centre while he is capable of making a big impact.
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