Wales sticks with tried and tested for Fiji showdown
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales head coach Steve Tandy announced the Wales team to play Fiji in the opening round of the Nations Championship.
Dewi Lake captains Wales in the away fixture taking place at Cardiff City Stadium, which is Fiji’s chosen home venue for the match.
Rhys Carre and Dillon Lewis are the starting props alongside Lake in the front row. Ben Carter starts in the second row partnered with Adam Beard, who joined the squad this week following the Top 14 Final.
In the back row, Alex Mann is named at blindside flanker, Jac Morgan is at open side flanker and last weekend’s player of the match, Aaron Wainwright, is at No.8.
Tomos Williams starts at scrumhalf with Dan Edwards, who scored two tries against the Barbarians, starting at flyhalf.
Joe Hawkins and Eddie James continue in the midfield for the sixth successive game for Wales.
Blair Murray, who made his debut against Fiji in November 2024, is selected at fullback with Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit named on the wings.
Among the Wales replacements, Ben Warren is in line to win his first cap this weekend, having made his first senior appearance for Wales in the uncapped match against the Barbarians last Saturday.
Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Taine Plumtree and James Botham are the other replacement forwards.
Kieran Hardy, Sam Costelow and Ellis Mee provide cover for the backs.
Wales: 15 Blair Murray,14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Eddie James, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Ben Carter, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Rhys Carre
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Taine Plumtree, 20 James Botham, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Ellis Mee
Date: Saturday, July 4
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 14.10 BST (13.10 GMT; 01.10 FJT Sunday, July 5)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)