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New Zealand Schools wing one of two uncapped picks in 35-man Wales squad
By Josh Raisey
Warren Gatland has named former New Zealand Schools wing Blair Murray in his 35-man squad for the Autumn Nations Series.
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The 23-year-old joined the Scarlets from Canterbury over the summer, and is one of two debutants in the squad alongside Gloucester lock Freddie Thomas, who has four other clubmates in the squad.
Wales take on Fiji, Australia and world champions South Africa in November, as they hunt for their first win over a Test side since last year’s World Cup.
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The squad will feature flanker Jac Morgan for the first time in 2024, who has overcome a knee injury that ruled him out of the Six Nations and a hamstring injury that prevented him from travelling to Australia.
The 24-year-old captained Wales at the World Cup last year alongside Dewi Lake, and his absence has been felt during Wales’ losing run. The captaincy will not be shared on this occasion, with Lake leading the side on his own.
Gatland will be without one of his stand-in skippers Dafydd Jenkins throughout the autumn campaign though. The lock deputised as captain for Morgan and Lake, who both missed this year’s Six Nations. The Exeter Chiefs star is one of a number of stalwarts who will be absent, including Josh Adams, Taulupe Faletau and Elliot Dee.
Former England U20 representative Thomas is joined by nine other Gallagher Premiership players – Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn and Josh Hathaway from Gloucester, Nicky Smith and Tommy Reffell from Leicester Tigers, Nick Tompkins from Saracens, Christ Tshiunza from Exeter Chiefs and Archie Griffin from Bath.
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“The coaches and I can’t wait to get started for this Autumn Nations Series and having the players back in camp next Monday to begin preparations for our first game against Fiji,” Gatland said.
“We feel this is an exciting squad with some experience coming back to join the younger players. We know they are going to work incredibly hard as a group this November.
“We have three very different opposition in Fiji, Australia and South Africa, but are looking forward to the challenges that each will pose.
“The autumn campaign is always special because we have back-to-back matches at home each weekend and there is no better place to go and play than Principality Stadium with all the passion and energy of our incredible fans.
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“I thought Dewi did a really good job with the captaincy over the summer, so we’ve decided for him to continue in the role this autumn.”
Wales squad 2024 Autumn Nations Series
Forwards (19)
Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 7 caps)
Adam Beard (Ospreys – 56 caps)
James Botham (Cardiff Rugby – 13 caps)
Ben Carter (Dragons – 12 caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 41 caps)
Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby – 3 caps)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 15 caps) Captain
Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby – 5 caps)
Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – 4 caps)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 15 caps)
Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 5 caps)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 20 caps)
Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 33 caps)
Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 46 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 33 caps)
Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby – uncapped)
Henry Thomas (Scarlets – 4 caps)
Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 12 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 50 caps)
Backs (16)
Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester Rugby – 37 caps)
Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Rugby – 3 caps)
Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 15 caps)
Rio Dyer (Dragons – 22 caps)
Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 14 caps)
Josh Hathaway (Gloucester Rugby – 1 cap)
Eddie James (Scarlets – 1 cap)
Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 1 cap)
Blair Murray (Scarlets – uncapped)
Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 4 caps)
Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 4 caps)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 38 caps)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 41 caps)
Rhodri Williams (Dragons – 3 caps)
Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 58 caps)
Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby – 7 caps)
Hows Taine been? Looked like a good player in SR but had repetitive mistake ridden performances. Has he looked comfortable in URC?