Wales Nations Championship squad adds uncapped Dragons pair, leaves out Faletau

Steve Tandy has turned to two uncapped Dragons players for Wales' November campaign. Centre Aneurin Owen and scrum-half Che Hope are in a 39-man squad that has no place for fit-again number eight Taulupe Faletau.

The Wales head coach named the group for the Nations Championship Tests, with hooker Dewi Lake as captain. Wales play Japan, New Zealand and Australia in Cardiff, then finish against a southern hemisphere side on finals weekend at Twickenham in London.

Injuries open the door

Both Dragons newcomers owe their chance partly to injuries elsewhere. Owen comes in while Cardiff centre Ben Thomas is injured. Hope fills the gap left by Kieran Hardy, who faces a long spell out with a knee injury, and gives Wales another option behind Tomos Williams.

"Che is a really exciting talent, and the way that he has performed for the Dragons has been outstanding," Tandy said.

There is a third uncapped player in the group. Cardiff loosehead prop Rhys Barratt played in the summer match against the Barbarians and is now in line for a first cap.

Recalls and returns

Tandy has brought back several familiar names. Dragons lock Seb Davies and Cardiff number eight Taine Basham are in for the first time since he took over. Dragons wing Rio Dyer, 26, also returns. The most recent of his 24 caps came against South Africa last November.

Liam Belcher, Tomas Francis, Archie Griffin, Louie Hennessey and Dafydd Jenkins are also back after missing the July Tests against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa. Belcher was picked ahead of Elliot Dee, who is the leading try-scorer in the United Rugby Championship but misses out.

Faletau is not the only notable omission. BBC Sport reported that the injury will keep Reffell out for four to six weeks.

Back-row forward Taine Plumtree and centre Joe Hawkins have been released to travel to South Africa with the Scarlets, who meet the Stormers on Saturday 24 October 2026.