There are a number of players who can count themselves unlucky
Steve Tandy has named a 48-man Wales squad for next month’s Barbarians fixture and the inaugural Nations Cup campaign this summer, and unsurprisingly, the selection has already sparked plenty of debate.
While attention will naturally fall on the players handed an opportunity, there are a number of notable absentees whose omissions have raised eyebrows.
Whether through form, experience or recent performances, several players can feel unfortunate to have missed out.
These are the men who may count themselves the unluckiest in Wales right now.
Owen Watkin
Arguably the biggest omission is Owen Watkin.
At 29, the Ospreys centre remains comfortably Wales’s most accomplished defensive midfielder, combining organisational authority with a level of consistency that has long made him one of the most dependable figures in the domestic game.
Given both his experience and the physical demands Wales are likely to face this summer, many expected him to feature prominently in Steve Tandy’s plans.
Against opponents such as Fiji, Argentina and South Africa, defensive resilience in midfield will be essential.
Yet Watkin appears to have fallen victim to fierce competition for places, with Max Llewellyn impressing for Gloucester since returning from injury, while Scarlets centre Joe Roberts has also been rewarded with an opportunity to stake his claim.
Callum Sheedy
The 30-year-old has rediscovered his best form at Cardiff this season, emerging as a pivotal figure in the region’s pursuit of a United Rugby Championship play-off berth.
Sheedy has recaptured the sharpness and authority that characterised his time at Bristol Bears, orchestrating Cardiff’s attack with assurance while also showing marked improvement from the tee.
With Sam Costelow sidelined through injury, there appeared a possibility that Tandy might allow the Scarlets playmaker the summer to fully recover, potentially opening the door for Sheedy’s return to the international fold.
Instead, Costelow has been included alongside Dan Edwards and Jarrod Evans, while Ben Thomas and Joe Hawkins also offer cover at outside-half.
Given his influential displays in successive Welsh derby victories over the Scarlets and Ospreys in recent weeks, Sheedy can count himself unfortunate to have been overlooked.
Rio Dyer
The Dragons wing is very unlucky to have missed out on selection and it is a little surprising.
Dyer was also left out of the Six Nations squad but has hit top form for the Dragons in recent weeks.
The 26-year-old is strong under the high ball, and his defence is also very strong; his sensational try-saving tackle on Montpellier’s outside centre Auguste Cadot is one of the best pieces of defensive work you’ll see this season.
He also knows his way to the try line having scored seven tries this season.
With Mason Grady and Ellis Mee currently sidelined with injury and Leicester Tigers’ Gabriel Hamer-Webb unlikely to be available for the match against the Barbarians because the game falls outside of World Rugby’s designated international window one would have expected to see Dyer in the squad.
Jacob Beetham
The 25-year-old has been playing well for Cardiff of late and has enjoyed a run of games on the wing.
Beetham would surely have won more than one international cap by now if it weren’t for injury, and he has plenty to offer the international game.
The fact that he can play wing, full-back and centre would have also been beneficial to this Wales squad.
Prior to winning his first Wales cap against South Africa at Twickenham in 2024 Beetham had been sounded out by Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend who offered the Cardiff man a place in his Six Nations squad that year.
Beetham chose to go with Wales but he could still represent Scotland in the future if he goes three full years without winning a cap.
Angus O’Brien
The 31-year-old has arguably been the in-form full-back in Welsh rugby this season.
O’Brien has been influential in an improved Dragons side this season; his kicking game, goal kicking and distribution are a big plus point for the Welsh club.
He may be at the tail end of his career but he has arguably never been in better form than he is right now.
Of course, there is a huge step up from regional level to the international game but there are a number of prominent former internationals who have been calling for O’Brien’s inclusion.
Morgan Morris
At 27, he has become the model of consistency for the Ospreys so much so that it is hard to remember a genuinely poor performance and his ever-expanding haul of player-of-the-match awards must be testing the limits of shelf space at home.
Morris is a dynamic carrier who gets through a mountain of defensive work and delivers match-defining moments regularly.
But he has never been included in a Wales squad with Wayne Pivac and Warren Gatland ignoring calls for Morris’ selection and so far Tandy has done the same.
With a new coaching team at the helm Morris may have felt this was his chance.
There’s a strong argument Morris should have been included in this squad.
James Ratti and Rhys Davies
The 28-year-old has been a model of consistency for the Ospreys for a number of seasons.
Ratti is a big physical forward who does all the unseen work which allows other players to shine.
Ospreys second-row Davies is another very physical player who has been in and around the Wales squad for a while and will be disappointed to have missed out.
The Ospreys have the strongest pack in Wales and many people would have been surprised to see both players not included.
Josh Macleod
The Scarlets captain rarely has a bad game for his club and is one of the best exponents of the breakdown in the URC.
Macleod leads from the front and is heavily respected throughout the Welsh game.
The 29-year-old started for Wales in the heavy 48-7 defeat in the Six Nations but was not seen again for the remainder of the championship.
Wales do have huge depth at openside flanker while Jac Morgan has also recovered from injury.
Many people would have expected to see Macleod’s name in the squad but Tandy has instead opted to recall Leicester Tigers openside Tommy Reffell.