Wales' rugby landscape just took a hit as former captain and lock, Dafydd Jenkins, has been sidelined due to a shoulder injury. The mishap occurred during Exeter’s unfortunate loss in the English Premiership final against Northampton on June 20. Now, instead of clashing with international heavyweights in the upcoming Nations Championship, Jenkins is slated for surgery.
Exeter's director of rugby, Rob Baxter, laid out the grim news, “
'Daf is having a shoulder operation and will miss the Wales summer internationals while rehabbing.'
” Fans can hold onto a sliver of hope, as Baxter anticipates Jenkins’ return around the commencement of the new Premiership season.Turning the page to the Nations Championship, Wales coach Steve Tandy unveiled a 33-player squad set to debut in this tournament, starting with a match against Fiji at the Cardiff City Stadium. Noteworthy is the inclusion of two uncapped players, Exeter’s Kane James and Ospreys’ Ben Warren. Tandy expressed his vision for the squad, “
'We have selected a squad of 33 players for the Nations Championship to mirror what will be required for the World Cup in 2027.'
” He added, “We have an exciting opportunity over the next three weeks in a brand-new competition and can’t wait to get our campaign started against Fiji on Saturday.”The spotlight also falls on Welsh rugby legend Leigh Halfpenny, who steps into the role of interim kicking coach. Halfpenny, capped 101 times, transitioned into coaching after hanging up his boots last season and was part of the coaching staff for the tour of Japan.
Despite a dismal run in the recent Six Nations, where they finished at the bottom, Wales managed to snap a 15-match losing streak with a victory over Italy. The team, under Tandy's guidance, aims to harness this momentum and strive for consistency in the Nations Championship.
Wales squad: Backs: Josh Adams, Sam Costelow, Dan Edwards, Mason Grady, Kieran Hardy, Joe Hawkins, Eddie James, Max Llewellyn, Ellis Mee, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Blair Murray, Louis Rees-Zammit, Ben Thomas, Tomos Williams. Forwards: Adam Beard, James Botham, Rhys Carre, Ben Carter, Ryan Elias, Kane James, Dewi Lake (c), Dillon Lewis, Evan Lloyd, Alex Mann, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree, Tommy Reffell, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Aaron Wainwright, Sam Wainwright, Ben Warren, Teddy Williams.