Dewi Lake has been named as Wales’ captain for this Saturday’s clash with the Barbarians, with head coach Steve Tandy opting to stick with the hooker as skipper despite the return of his club teammate Jac Morgan.
Lake has led Wales in their last two international campaigns in the absence of Morgan, who was ruled out of the majority of the autumn internationals and the Six Nations after suffering a shoulder injury against Argentina.
Having now returned from injury, it was perhaps taken for granted that Morgan would once again be named skipper, but, ahead of a busy summer campaign, Tandy has opted to stick with Lake, who has led the side in all but one game during his time as head coach.
Lake – who, alongside Morgan, is joining Gloucester from the Ospreys ahead of next season – has previously been skipper on summer tours in 2024 and 2025, while even captained Wales in the autumn of 2024 despite the British and Irish Lions back rower being available for that campaign.
The duo were first named Wales co-captains by Warren Gatland at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and have both had stints leading the team.
The announcement comes ahead of Wales’ coaching staff and players facing the media for the first time this summer at a press conference on Tuesday, with Wales Women also holding court ahead of this weekend’s Barbarians double header in London.
Tandy’s players are expected to be told the first matchday team of the summer today, with an official announcement to follow on Thursday.
You can catch everything said in the press conference with our live updates below.
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