Wales drop Taulupe Faletau from Nations Championship squad
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Veteran forward Taulupe Faletau was left out of Steve Tandy’s Wales squad announced on Tuesday for next month’s Nations Championship matches despite returning from injury.
The 35-year-old Faletau, who is targeting a fourth Rugby World Cup in Australia next year, played for Cardiff in the Champions Cup on Sunday – his first game since March.
Fellow back-row forwards Tommy Reffell and Olly Cracknell were also omitted from head coach Tandy’s 39-man group despite their impressive form for Leicester in the English Prem.
But the uncapped trio of Aneurin Owen, Che Hope and Rhys Barratt have been included.
Scrumhalf Hope gets his chance with Ospreys’ Kieran Hardy facing a lengthy lay-off with a knee injury, while Owen features after impressing for the Dragons in the United Rugby Championship.
Wales face Japan, New Zealand and Australia in Cardiff in the decisive northern hemisphere leg of the inaugural Nations Championship in November.
Tandy’s men are fifth out of six teams in the northern hemisphere table after just one win in three games in the southern hemisphere section of matches in July.
“We’re excited to head into our three home rounds of the competition,” said Tandy. “Principality Stadium is a special place to play and means an awful lot to the players.
“When we assemble as a group next week all eyes will be on that first home fixture against Japan and preparing well to put in a good performance for the fans.”
Wales squad
Backs: Josh Adams, Sam Costelow, Rio Dyer, Dan Edwards, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Joe Hawkins, Louie Hennessey, Che Hope, Eddie James, Max Llewellyn, Ellis Mee, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Blair Murray, Aneurin Owen, Louis Rees-Zammit, Tom Rogers, Tomos Williams
Forwards: Rhys Barratt, Taine Basham, Adam Beard, Liam Belcher, James Botham, Rhys Carre, Ben Carter, Ryan Elias, Seb Davies, Tomas Francis, Archie Griffin, Kane James, Dafydd Jenkins, Dewi Lake, Dillon Lewis, Alex Mann, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Aaron Wainwright, Teddy Williams
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