Some quality players are set to miss out when Steve Tandy names his Wales squad

Steve Tandy will name his Wales squad for the Nations Championship tomorrow, with the back row presenting the head coach with a selection headache of the most welcome kind.

Wales’ lack of depth has been a recurring concern, but the back row is one position where Tandy is blessed with both quality and quantity.

He selected seven back-row forwards for Wales’ opening block of Nations Championship fixtures this summer. Should he stick with that figure, a number of talented players will inevitably find themselves on the outside looking in.

Nailed-on

There are, however, a handful of players who can consider themselves certainties for selection.

Jac Morgan is firmly in that category. The 26-year-old has made an impressive start to life at Gloucester and underlined his quality with an outstanding performance against European champions Bordeaux on Friday night.

A talismanic figure for Wales in recent years, Morgan remains one of the first names on the team sheet.

Aaron Wainwright is another whose place looks secure after arguably being Wales’ standout performer last season.

A dynamic presence in the back row, Wainwright combines explosive ball-carrying with an impressive blend of athleticism and raw power.

He has also made a strong start to the season with Leicester Tigers, although injury forced him to withdraw from their Champions Cup defeat by Pau.

Beyond Morgan and Wainwright there are no certainties. They are the only two back-row forwards whose places appear assured, leaving Tandy with some difficult decisions to make.

A potential return for Faletau

There were plenty of pundits ready to write off Taulupe Faletau’s international career, with his age and recent injury record raising doubts over how much he has left to offer Wales.

But the 35-year-old delivered an impressive performance in Cardiff’s defeat by Northampton Saints on Sunday, serving as a reminder of the quality he could still bring to the national side.

Faletau is among the most complete players ever to represent Wales, and a fully fit version of the No 8 would undoubtedly add another dimension to Tandy’s team.

The problem, however, is his fitness. A succession of injuries has kept him sidelined for lengthy periods in recent seasons, leaving legitimate questions over whether his body can withstand the demands of Test rugby.

He will also be 36 by the time the next Rugby World Cup comes around, giving Tandy a difficult decision to make. He can persist with a proven world-class operator or use this autumn to invest in a younger back-row forward who could form part of Wales’ long-term plans.

The key decisions

Blindside flanker is an intriguing position, with the balance of the back row often proving just as important as the individual quality of its players.

For Tandy, the challenge is not simply to select his best back-row forwards, but to find the right combination.

Taine Plumtree is an option with plenty of potential, although injury has restricted him to just 40 minutes of rugby this season. His discipline remains an area for improvement, but the Scarlets forward offers athleticism and a degree of x-factor that could prove valuable at Test level.

Plumtree has the skillset to produce game-changing moments, but consistency remains the key to unlocking his full potential.

Harrison Keddie, meanwhile, is understood to be firmly in contention for a place in Tandy’s squad, with the Wales head coach known to be an admirer of the Dragons forward.

Keddie may lack Plumtree’s capacity for the spectacular, but he brings a different set of qualities.

A physical, industrious presence, he gets through a huge amount of work around the pitch and offers the sort of graft and reliability that Tandy is likely to value.

It would be a shock if Alex Mann was not in the squad given his performances in the Six Nations.

One guy who is knocking at the door is Cardiff backrower Taine Basham, who has been outstanding at club level over the past year.

The 26-year-old’s talent has never been in question, but Basham lost his way for a period, with errors and ill-discipline undermining his considerable ability.

His move from the Dragons to Cardiff in the summer of 2025 has, however, breathed new life into his career. He has excelled at No 8, consistently featuring among the leading performers for tackles made, carries and turnovers won. Just as significantly, his discipline has improved markedly.

Basham also has a knack for making things happen when it matters. His ability to produce game-changing moments has become a defining feature of his performances for Cardiff.

His power and directness as a carrier offer Wales a point of difference, while his recent form suggests he is ready to make an impact at international level once again.

Few players in Wales possess Basham’s dynamism and explosive power, and with the national side short of ball-carriers he has to be close to selection.

On recent form Basham may have jumped ahead of Morgan Morse and Morgan Morris in the pecking order.

Deian Gwynne is also on the radar but the Wales U20s captain is probably behind a handful of players at this moment in time.

But his inclusion could rest on whether Tandy includes Faletau or not.

Let's also not forget that second-row Freddie Thomas can also play blindside flanker.

Openside flanker

With Morgan seemingly assured of his place, the question is whether Tandy will opt for another specialist openside or favour a more versatile option who can offer greater flexibility across the back row.

Tommy Reffell strengthened his case with an outstanding display for Leicester Tigers against Gloucester 10 days ago, when he went head-to-head with Morgan.

The 27-year-old is one of the finest breakdown operators in the Gallagher Premiership, combining an impressive work rate with a physical edge that makes him a formidable presence at the contact area.

Reffell has been a consistent performer for Wales over the years, but the fact he can only play openside at Test level could count against him.

With the likes of Kane James and James Botham able to cover multiple positions across the back row, Tandy may be tempted to favour players who offer greater tactical flexibility.

Reffell has also been overlooked for several of Tandy’s earlier squads, so it would come as little surprise if he were to fall victim to the increased competition for places.

Scarlets captain Josh Macleod finds himself in a similar position, with the battle for back-row places potentially leaving another specialist openside on the outside looking in.

Dan Thomas and Thomas Young are also quality players who are unlikely to be included.

The emergence of Exeter Chiefs back-rower Kane James has given Tandy another compelling option and further strengthened his hand.

James offers something different to the other back-row forwards in contention, combining dynamism and physicality with explosive ball-carrying and impressive technical ability.

The prospect of unleashing him from the bench for the final 20 minutes is an enticing one, with his power and athleticism potentially making a significant impact against tiring defences.

Basham could offer a similar threat, giving Tandy further options if he opts for impact players among his replacements.