Wales autumn international squad: Warren Gatland includes uncapped Leicester back Jonah Holmes
Stockport-born Holmes is handed his first Wales call-up as he qualifies through his grandparents
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Your support makes all the difference.Wales have included uncapped Leicester Tigers back Jonah Holmes among their 37-man squad for the autumn internationals.
The Stockport-born 26-year-old has broken into the Leicester starting line-up at full-back this season, and qualifying for Wales through his grandparents, he has caught the eye of head coach Warren Gatland ahead of next month’s tests against Scotland, Australia, Tonga and South Africa.
He is one of two uncapped players included in the squad as Ospreys back Luke Morgan is also named, having made a successful transition from the Sevens programme this summer, and Holmes caught the eye two weeks ago when he produced a man-of-the-match performance in Leicester’s victory over Northampton Saints at Twickenham, in which he created both of their two tries.
Jones is one of five Premiership players named by Gatland as he’s joined by Exeter’s Tomas Francis, Saracens’ Liam Williams and Worcester’s Joh Adams, who remain eligible after they signed their current contracts before the 16 October 2017 cut-off, and Dan Biggar, who is above the 60-cap selection threshold.
“The two uncapped players in Luke and Jonah are both form, back-three players and we are looking forward to seeing them in this environment and seeing what they can do,” Gatland said after announcing his squad.
Having rested a number of British and Irish Lions from the summer tour of the United States and Argentina, Gatland brings eight established names back into the fold, with captain Alun Wyn Jones returning alongside the likes of Ken Owens, Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams. The Lions octuplet is completed by flankers Dan Lydiate and Justin Tipuric, fly-half Biggar and fit-again centre Jonathan Davies, but there is no Taulupe Faletau after he had surgery on a broken arm in Bath’s defeat by Exeter earlier this month.
Wales' fixtures
Wales vs Scotland (3 November - 2.45pm)
Wales vs Australia (10 November - 5.20pm)
Wales vs Tonga (17 November - 2.30pm)
Wales vs South Africa (24 November - 5.20pm)
Despite recalling all of his available Lions – with Sam Warburton retired and Rhys Webb unavailable due to his move to Toulon – Gatland has also kept faith with a number of summer tourists who impressed in their absence, with props Leon Brown and Dillon Lewis and flanker Aaron Wainwright among those retained.
“This autumn is the start of a 12-month countdown to the Rugby World Cup and it is a huge opportunity for the players,” Gatland added. “The players who performed and represented Wales so well in the summer deserve the opportunity again and we are really pleased with the depth we have built across the squad.
“We have added in a lot of experience with eight British and Irish Lions coming into the squad so there is a lot of competition for places.
“Some experienced players have missed out, the message to them is the door isn’t closed looking long term, it’s just a reflection of where we are depth wise and the opportunity to look at other players.”
Along with Faletau, lock Seb Davies and flankers Aaron Shingler, James Davies and Josh Navidi were not considered due to injury as well as Ospreys centre Scott Williams, Dragons wing Hallam Amos and Cardiff back Owen Lane.
Wales’ autumn international squad
Forwards:
Rob Evans, Wyn Jones (both Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias, Ken Owens (both Scarlets), Leon Brown (Dragons), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Adam Beard, Bradley Davies (both Ospreys), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Dragons), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Backs:
Aled Davies (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe (both Cardiff Blues), Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), Rhys Patchell, Jonathan Davies (both Scarlets), Tyler Morgan (Dragons), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Josh Adams (Worcester Warriors), Steffan Evans, Leigh Halfpenny (both Scarlets), Jonah Holmes* (Leicester Tigers), Luke Morgan*, George North (both Ospreys), Liam Williams (Saracens).
*denotes uncapped players.
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