Dewi Lake has been named as Wales’ captain for this Saturday’s clash with the Barbarians, with head coach Steve Tandy opting to stick with the hooker as skipper despite the return of his club teammate Jac Morgan.
Lake has led Wales in their last two international campaigns in the absence of Morgan, who was ruled out of the majority of the autumn internationals and the Six Nations after suffering a shoulder injury against Argentina.
Having now returned from injury, it was perhaps taken for granted that Morgan would once again be named skipper, but, ahead of a busy summer campaign, Tandy has opted to stick with Lake, who has led the side in all but one game during his time as head coach.
Lake – who, alongside Morgan, is joining Gloucester from the Ospreys ahead of next season – has previously been skipper on summer tours in 2024 and 2025, while even captained Wales in the autumn of 2024 despite the British and Irish Lions back rower being available for that campaign.
The duo were first named Wales co-captains by Warren Gatland at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and have both had stints leading the team.
“It’s an honour,” said Lake as he addressed the media at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. “We are full of leaders in this group – Daf, Jac, Tomos. I think it is always a surprise. You never expect anything.
“Jac is an incredible leader and was unlucky with his injury otherwise he’d still be in this role. We all help each other out. When it comes to game day, we are all leaders.”
On his relationship with Morgan, the hooker added: “I speak to Jac every day. We are lucky, we have an incredible relationship on and off the field.
“Whatever way it goes, we have incredible support for each other. It is the two of us together. I know he will support me in whatever way he can and it would have been the same if the decision was the other way.
“I know Jac will be in my corner and he’s there whenever I need him.”
The announcement came ahead of a press conference on Tuesday, with Wales Women captain Alex Callender and new men’s defence coach Peter Murchie also holding court with the media ahead of this weekend’s Barbarians double header in London.
Tandy’s players are expected to be told the first matchday team of the summer today, with an official announcement to follow on Thursday.
You can catch everything that was said in the press conference below.
Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here for all the breaking news.