Uncapped Dragons get Wales Nations Championship call

Wales include uncapped Dragons backs Aneurin Owen and Che Hope in the squad for November Nations Championship Tests but Taulupe Faletau misses out. Aneurin Owen and Che Hope have featured in the opening four games of 2026-27 for Dragons Uncapped Dragons centre Aneurin Owen and scrum-half Che Hope have been included in Wales' squad for the Nations Championship. Steve Tandy has selected a 39-strong group for the November Tests, with hooker Dewi Lake named as captain. The head coach calls up Dragons lock Seb Davies and Cardiff number eight Taine Basham for the first time since he took charge of the national side. Cardiff loose-head prop Rhys Barratt, who played in the summer fixture against the Barbarians, is the third uncapped player in the squad, while Dragons wing Rio Dyer earns a recall.

Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell and fit-again number eight Taulupe Faletau are among the notable absentees. Wales face Japan, New Zealand and Australia in Cardiff and finish against a southern hemisphere opponent on finals weekend at Twickenham. Owen was a member of the Wales squad in the summer of 2021 but did not feature in the Tests against Canada or Argentina. The 26-year-old from Newport has been a key member of the Dragons side that has built on an encouraging 2025-26 with a promising start to the season.