Gatland names Wales squad named for Autumn Nations Series
Wales face Fiji, Australia and South Africa in Cardiff next month
Senior men’s head coach Warren Gatland has named a 35-player squad to come into camp on Monday 28 October to begin preparations for the Autumn Nations Series.
Dewi Lake will captain the side again this November having done so on the Summer Tour to Australia.
Two uncapped players are selected among the 19 forwards and 16 backs named today: second row Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby) and Scarlets’ wing Blair Murray.
Adam Beard, Ryan Elias, Jac Morgan, Will Rowlands, Henry Thomas and Tomos Williams return to the squad having missed the Tests in Australia this summer due to injury or being rested.
There are also recalls for Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn, Tom Rogers, Nicky Smith and Rhodri Williams, in a Wales squad that has an average age of 25.
Gatland said: "The coaches and I can’t wait to get started for this Autumn Nations Series and having the players back in camp next Monday to begin preparations for our first game against Fiji.
"We feel this is an exciting squad with some experience coming back to join the younger players. We know they are going to work incredibly hard as a group this November.
"We have three very different opposition in Fiji, Australia and South Africa, but are looking forward to the challenges that each will pose.
"The autumn campaign is always special because we have back-to-back matches at home each weekend and there is no better place to go and play than Principality Stadium with all the passion and energy of our incredible fans."
Regarding the captaincy, Gatland added: "I thought Dewi did a really good job with the captaincy over the summer, so we’ve decided for him to continue in the role this autumn."
First up Fiji make a trip to the Welsh capital on 10 November (KO 13:40). This will be the 15th Test match and 18th fixture overall between the two nations, having first met just over 60 years ago (26 September 1964) when a Wales XV won 28 – 22 at Cardiff Arms Park.
The Wallabies are the next team in town the following weekend (17 November, KO 14:10), with Wales hosting Australia in Cardiff after two Test matches down under this summer.
To close a huge Autumn Nations Series 2024, Wales take on world champions South Africa on 23 November (KO 17:40). This fixture will help mark the stadium’s 25th anniversary, having opened in the summer of 1999 with a match against South Africa as Wales celebrated their first victory against the Springboks.