Wales have suffered a blow after a former skipper was ruled out of their upcoming Nations Championship Tests.
Lock Dafydd Jenkins injured a shoulder during Exeter’s English Premiership final loss to Northampton on 20 June and is now set for surgery instead of facing Fiji, Argentina and the Springboks over the next three weekends.
“Daf is having a shoulder operation and will miss the Wales summer internationals while rehabbing,” Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told the club’s website. “However, he is expected to be fit for around the start of the new Prem season.”
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Meanwhile, Wales coach Steve Tandy on Tuesday announced his 33-strong squad for the inaugural Nations Championship, which begins with a Cardiff City Stadium fixture against Fiji on Saturday.
Although this is the southern hemisphere window, Fiji are playing their “home” fixtures in Europe for financial reasons.
There are two uncapped players in the Wales squad – Exeter loose forward Kane James and Ospreys tighthead prop Ben Warren.
“We have selected a squad of 33 players for the Nations Championship to mirror what will be required for the World Cup in 2027,” said Tandy.
“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.”
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Wales endured another woeful Six Nations, finishing bottom of the table, although they did end a three-year losing streak in the tournament, spanning 15 matches, with a 31-17 defeat of Italy in Cardiff on 14 March.
“We want to continue building and to be more consistent in our performances across all three games,” said Tandy.
Wales great Leigh Halfpenny, meanwhile, has been appointed interim kicking coach.
The 101-times capped Halfpenny, who retired at the end of last season, was a member of Matt Sherratt’s backroom staff for last year’s two-Test tour of Japan.
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.
– AFP
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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Wales have suffered a blow after a former skipper was ruled out of their upcoming Nations Championship Tests.
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