The Wales Six Nations 2026 squad have comprehensively lost their opening two matches, so it’s no surprise that head coach Steve Tandy has made plenty of changes to his matchday 23 ahead of the visit of Scotland.
The big news is an international debut for Leicester Tigers’ Gabriel Hamer-Webb, who starts on the wing in place of Ellis Mee. Sam Costelow is picked at fly-half, with Dan Edwards dropping out of the 23.
In the pack, Ben Carter is selected ahead of the experienced Adam Beard at lock, while Taine Plumtree comes into the back row – Olly Cracknell is the player to miss out.
Those changes mean a back three of full-back Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams and Hamer-Webb, and a centre partnership of Eddie James and Joe Hawkins. Tomos Williams continues at scrum-half alongside Costelow.
The front row is an unchanged trio of Rhys Carré, Tomas Francis and captain Dewi Lake, while Dafydd Jenkins packs down alongside Ben Carter. Plumtree joins Alex Mann and Aaron Wainwright in the back row.
Tandy has continued with a 5-3 configuration on the bench, though there are some personnel changes. Front row replacements Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin keep their places, but Freddie Thomas and James Botham have been drafted in to provide forwards cover further back in the scrum. Kieran Hardy and Jarrod Evans continue as substitute half-backs, while Blair Murray is in line to make his first appearance of this year’s championship.
“It’s our third game of the championship,” said Tandy. “We want to build on our performance. We want to see more consistent moments and back-to-back moments, which we feel if we get we’ll be closer to getting the outcome we want from games.”
Wales v Scotland kicks off at 4.40pm GMT on Saturday 21 February, with free live coverage on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Play in Ireland.
Wales Six Nations team v Scotland – round 3
15. Louis Rees-Zammit
14. Gabriel Hamer-Webb
13. Eddie James
12. Joe Hawkins
11. Josh Adams
10. Sam Costelow
9. Tomos Williams
1. Rhys Carré
2. Dewi Lake (captain)
3. Tomas Francis
4. Dafydd Jenkins
5. Ben Carter
6. Taine Plumtree
7. Alex Mann
8. Aaron Wainwright
Replacements:
16. Ryan Elias
17. Nicky Smith
18. Archie Griffin
19. Freddie Thomas
20. James Botham
21. Kieran Hardy
22. Jarrod Evans
23. Blair Murray
Wales Six Nations team v France – round 2
15. Louis Rees-Zammit
14. Ellis Mee
13. Eddie James
12. Joe Hawkins
11. Josh Adams
10. Dan Edwards
9. Tomos Williams
1. Rhys Carré
2. Dewi Lake (captain)
3. Tomas Francis
4. Dafydd Jenkins
5. Adam Beard
6. Aaron Wainwright
7. Alex Mann
8. Olly Cracknell
Replacements:
16. Ryan Elias
17. Nicky Smith
18. Archie Griffin
19. Ben Carter
20. Taine Plumtree
21. Kieran Hardy
22. Jarrod Evans
23. Mason Grady
Wales Six Nations team v England – round 1
15. Louis Rees-Zammit
14. Ellis Mee
13. Eddie James
12. Ben Thomas
11. Josh Adams
10. Dan Edwards
9. Tomos Williams
1. Nicky Smith
2. Dewi Lake (captain)
3. Archie Griffin
4. Dafydd Jenkins
5. Adam Beard
6. Alex Mann
7. Josh Macleod
8. Aaron Wainwright
Replacements:
16. Liam Belcher
17. Rhys Carré
18. Tomas Francis
19. Ben Carter
20. Taine Plumtree
21. Harri Deaves
22. Kieran Hardy
23. Mason Grady
Wales Six Nations squad 2026: Tandy’s 39-man squad
Forwards (21): Adam Beard (Montpellier), Liam Belcher (Cardiff), James Botham (Cardiff), Rhys Carre (Saracens), Ben Carter (Dragons), Olly Cracknell (Leicester), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), Harri Deaves (Ospreys), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Provence), Archie Griffin (Bath), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter), Dewi Lake (Ospreys, captain), Alex Mann (Cardiff), Josh Macleod (Scarlets), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Leicester), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Sam Wainwright (Cardiff).
Backs (18): Josh Adams (Cardiff), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), Mason Grady (Cardiff), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), Louie Hennessey (Bath), Eddie James (Scarlets), Ellis Mee (Scarlets), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Tomos Williams (Gloucester).
Wales Six Nations squad: 2026 fixtures at a glance
- Sat 7 February, England v Wales (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham) Live on ITV in the UK
- Sun 15 February, Wales v France (kick-off 3.10pm GMT, Principality Stadium, Cardiff) Live on the BBC in the UK
- Sat 21 February, Wales v Scotland (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Principality Stadium, Cardiff) Live on the BBC in the UK
- Fri 6 March, Ireland v Wales (kick-off 8.10pm GMT, Aviva Stadium, Dublin) Live on ITV in the UK
- Sat 14 March, Wales v Italy (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Principality Stadium, Cardiff) Live on the BBC in the UK
Wales Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2025
Round 1: v France (Stade de France, Paris)
Result: France 43-0 Wales
Starting XV:
15. Liam Williams
14. Tom Rogers
13. Nick Tompkins
12. Owen Watkin
11. Josh Adams
10. Ben Thomas
9. Tomos Williams
1. Gareth Thomas
2. Evan Lloyd
3. Henry Thomas
4. Will Rowlands
5. Dafydd Jenkins
6. James Botham
7. Jac Morgan (captain)
8. Aaron Wainwright
Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee
17. Nicky Smith
18. Keiron Assiratti
19. Freddie Thomas
20. Tommy Reffell
21. Rhodri Williams
22. Dan Edwards
23. Blair Murray
Round 2: v Italy (Stadio Olimpico, Rome)
Result: Italy 22-Wales 15
Starting XV:
15. Blair Murray
14. Tom Rogers
13. Nick Tompkins
12. Eddie James
11. Josh Adams
10. Ben Thomas
9. Tomos Williams
1. Gareth Thomas
2. Evan Lloyd
3. Henry Thomas
4. Will Rowlands
5. Freddie Thomas
6. James Botham
7. Jac Morgan (captain)
8. Taulupe Faletau
Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee
17. Nicky Smith
18. Keiron Assiratti
19. Teddy Williams
20. Aaron Wainwright
21. Rhodri Williams
22. Dan Edwards
23. Josh Hathaway
Round 3: v Ireland (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Result: Wales 18-27 Ireland
Starting XV:
15. Blair Murray
14. Tom Rogers
13. Max Llewellyn
12. Ben Thomas
11. Ellis Mee
10. Gareth Anscombe
9. Tomos Williams
1. Nicky Smith
2. Elliot Dee
3. WillGriff John
4. Will Rowlands
5. Dafydd Jenkins
6. Jac Morgan (captain)
7. Tommy Reffell
8. Taulupe Faletau
Replacements:
16. Evan Lloyd
17. Gareth Thomas
18. Henry Thomas
19. Teddy Williams
20. Aaron Wainwright
21. Rhodri Williams
22. Jarrod Evans
23. Joe Roberts
Round 4: v Scotland (Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
Result: Scotland 35-29 Wales
Starting XV:
15. Blair Murray
14. Tom Rogers
13. Max Llewellyn
12. Ben Thomas
11. Ellis Mee
10. Gareth Anscombe
9. Tomos Williams
1. Nicky Smith
2. Elliot Dee
3. WillGriff John
4. Will Rowlands
5. Dafydd Jenkins
6. Jac Morgan (captain)
7. Tommy Reffell
8. Taulupe Faletau
Replacements:
16. Dewi Lake
17. Gareth Thomas
18. Keiron Assiratti
19. Teddy Williams
20. Aaron Wainwright
21. Rhodri Williams
22. Jarrod Evans
23. Joe Roberts
Round 5: v England (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Result: Wales 14-68 England
Starting XV:
15. Blair Murray
14. Ellis Mee
13. Max Llewellyn
12. Ben Thomas
11. Joe Roberts
10. Gareth Anscombe
9. Tomos Williams
1. Nicky Smith
2. Elliot Dee
3. WillGriff John
4. Will Rowlands
5. Dafydd Jenkins
6. Aaron Wainwright
7. Jac Morgan (captain)
8. Taulupe Faletau
Replacements:
16. Dewi Lake
17. Gareth Thomas
18. Keiron Assiratti
19. Teddy Williams
20. Tommy Reffell
21. Rhodri Williams
22. Jarrod Evans
23. Nick Tompkins
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