Wayne Pivac has cast his eye on building towards the future after naming a 38-man squad for Wales’ busy autumn campaign.
His side contest their final 2020 Guinness Six Nations fixture at home to Scotland at Parc y Scarlets on October 31, having taken on France in a warm-up game exactly a week earlier.
Wales will then take part in the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup, facing Ireland in Dublin on November 13 and then Georgia and England ahead of a play-off contest to determine their final standing in the competition.
It has been a frustrating Guinness Six Nations campaign for Wales so far this year, as they currently sit fifth in the table with just one win – against Italy in Round 1 – from their four matches.
But, Pivac has set about rejuvenating his squad by including seven uncapped players.
Among the exciting additions, two new forwards are named in hooker Sam Parry and back-row Josh Macleod, while five uncapped backs are included in Kieran Hardy, Callum Sheedy, Johnny Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit and Ioan Lloyd.
Meanwhile, three men who missed the opening four rounds of this year’s Guinness Six Nations return in the form of Tomas Francis, Rhys Patchell and Jonathan Davies.
“We are looking forward to getting back to international rugby and getting the squad together again,” Pivac said.
“This campaign is hugely important looking to the future and long term to the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
“We kick off the campaign with a game against France which will help prepare us for the re-arranged Six Nations match versus Scotland which is an important game and important we get a good performance from.
“We then go into the Autumn Nations Cup (ANC) which is an exciting tournament and a great opportunity for us.
“It is a chance for us to continue developing our game, give opportunities to players and test them at this level. It is ideal preparation for the all-important 2021 Six Nations which will come around quickly after the Autumn Nations Cup.”
Backs
Rhys Webb, Ospreys
Gareth Davies, Scarlets
Kieran Hardy, Scarlets*
Dan Biggar, Northampton
Rhys Patchell, Scarlets
Callum Sheedy, Bristol*
Owen Watkin, Ospreys
Nick Tompkins, Dragons
Jonathan Davies, Scarlets
Johnny Williams, Scarlets
George North, Ospreys
Josh Adams, Cardiff Blues
Louis Rees-Zammit, Gloucester*
Jonah Holmes, Dragons
Leigh Halfpenny, Scarlets
Ioan Lloyd, Bristol*
Liam Williams, Scarlets
Forwards
Rhys Carre, Cardiff Blues
Wyn Jones, Scarlets
Nicky Smith, Ospreys
Ken Owens, Scarlets
Ryan Elias, Scarlets
Sam Parry, Ospreys*
Samson Lee, Scarlets
Dillon Lewis, Cardiff Blues
Tomas Francis, Exeter Chiefs
Leon Brown, Dragons
Alun Wyn Jones, Ospreys
Will Rowlands, Wasps
Jake Ball, Scarlets
Seb Davies, Cardiff Blues
Cory Hill, Cardiff Blues
Aaron Wainwright, Dragons
Ross Moriarty, Dragons
Taulupe Faletau, Bath
Josh Navidi, Cardiff Blues
Justin Tipuric, Ospreys
Josh Macleod, Scarlets*
*Uncapped players
