Eight players from Scarlets have been named in the Wales squad set to face the Barbarians this Saturday at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. This fixture marks the beginning of a busy summer schedule for Wales, which includes matches against Fiji, Argentina, and South Africa as part of the new Nations Championship campaign.
The Scarlets contingent forms the entire three-quarter line for Wales. Blair Murray will start at full-back, with Tom Rogers and Ellis Mee on the wings. The midfield will feature Joe Hawkins and Eddie James. Additionally, flanker Taine Plumtree is included in the starting XV.
On the bench, hooker Ryan Elias and Sam Costelow, who returns from injury, are among the eight Scarlets players in Steve Tandy’s matchday 23. The match is part of a double-header event in West London.
Wales Men’s Lineup and Preparations
The starting lineup for the Wales Men’s team includes a mix of experienced players and uncapped talents. Dewi Lake of Ospreys will captain the side. Other notable starters include Dan Edwards at fly-half and Kieran Hardy at scrum-half, both from Ospreys. The front row features Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Dewi Lake, and Dillon Lewis (Dragons).
The second row consists of Ben Carter (Dragons) and Teddy Williams (Cardiff), while the back row is made up of Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), and Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Among the replacements, four players are uncapped and could make their senior debut for Wales. These include Cardiff’s loose-head prop Rhys Barratt, Ospreys tight-head Ben Warren, second row Ryan Woodman from the Dragons, and back-rower Harrison Keddie, also from the Dragons. Steve Tandy expressed his delight for these players, noting their potential first senior appearances.
Tandy highlighted the importance of the Barbarians match as preparation for the Nations Championship. He anticipates a high-paced game with numerous offloads, which he believes will serve as excellent preparation for their upcoming fixture against Fiji. The team aims to build on their recent Six Nations performance, where they secured a victory against Italy.
Barbarians Squad and Notable Players
The Barbarians squad features several international players, including the two-time World Cup winner Faf de Klerk, who will start at scrum-half. Other players in the Barbarians starting lineup include SpringSpring at full-back, KellawayKellaway and VakatawaVakatawa on the wings, and WardWard and NankivellNankivell in the midfield. PlummerPlummer is named at fly-half.
The forward pack for the Barbarians includes KharaishviliKharaishvili, DeeDee, and KochKoch in the front row. The second row features RoddaRodda and TaofifenuaTaofifenua, with Salakaia-LotoSalakaia-Loto, BoshierBoshier, and HughesHughes completing the back row. Substitutions during the match saw IscaroIscaro replace KharaishviliKharaishvili at 26 minutes and TangaTanga come on for RoddaRodda at 49 minutes.
Kieran Hardy, who will line up against Faf de Klerk, believes the South African scrum-half has something to prove, especially after missing out on South Africa’s squad for the upcoming Nations Championship. Hardy described de Klerk as a player with energy across the field, noting his experience and significant role in running the game for South Africa over recent years.
The Barbarians contest will also see George North conclude his career. The match is a precursor to the inaugural Nations Championship, which is scheduled to begin next month and conclude in November. Wales is set to play Fiji at Cardiff City Stadium on July 4.
Wales Women’s Match
The double-header event also includes Sean Lynn’s Wales Women’s team taking on the Barbarians at 5pm. The Wales Women’s team will be captained by Alex Callender, who is making a return from injury. The starting lineup includes Nel Metcalfe at full-back, Kelsie Webster and Amy Williams on the wings, and Courtney Keight and Jenna De Vera in the midfield.
Kayleigh Powell is named at fly-half, with Seren Lockwood at scrum-half. The forward pack features Maisie Davies, Molly Reardon, and Sisilia Tuipulotu in the front row. Branwen Metcalfe and Jorja Aiono are in the second row, while Alisha Joyce, Alex Callender, and Bryonie King complete the back row. Eleven of the women’s starting line-up are aged 22 or under.
Read Also
Source: bbc.co.uk
You may also like
Joel Kavanagh is a Sports News Writer at News-GB. He started on a Midlands sports desk. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from De Montfort University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Leicester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight calendar. “In sport news, the first ten minutes decide everything.”