Max Llewellyn and debutant Ellis Mee also come into starting XV for match against Ireland

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Interim coach Matt Sherratt has given the Wales Six Nations 2025 starting line-up a radical overhaul for his first match since taking over from Warren Gatland.

Fly-half Gareth Anscombe and centre Max Llewellyn, both drafted into the squad by Sherratt, come straight into the starting line-up for Saturday’s Principality Stadium clash with Ireland. Another late addition to the squad, fly-half Jarrod Evans, is on the bench. Ellis Mee wins his first international cap on the wing.

Anscombe partners Tomos Williams in an all-Gloucester half-back pairing, while Llewellyn lines up alongside Ben Thomas (who started Wales’ previous Six Nations matches at fly-half) in the centres. Tom Rogers continues on the wing, with Blair Murray – who was a late replacement for Liam Williams in the defeat to Italy – at full-back.

Sherratt has named an all-new front row, with Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee and WillGriff John comking in for Gareth Thomas, Evan Lloyd and Henry Thomas, all of whom are on the replacements bench. In the second row, Will Rowlands partners Dafydd Jenkins, who returns after the illness that kept him out of the Italy game.

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In the back row, Taulupe Faletau continues at number 8, as Sherratt opts to start both of his highly rated opensides, Tommy Reffell and captain Jac Morgan, together.

Teddy Williams, Aaron Wainwright, Rhodri Williams, Jarrod Evans and Joe Roberts join Thomas, Lloyd and Thomas on the bench.

“We have spoken this week about being brave, but not reckless and making sure everyone knows their roles,” said Sherratt on announcing the team. “We also know that keeping our discipline will be huge.

“Everyone is excited for our first home game of the Six Nations. The atmosphere Wales fans create at Principality Stadium is incredible and playing at home is something the players really look forward to.”

Wales v Ireland kicks off at 2.15pm GMT on Saturday 22 February.


Wales Six Nations team v Ireland

15. Blair Murray
14. Tom Rogers
13. Max Llewellyn
12. Ben Thomas
11. Ellis Mee
10. Gareth Anscombe
9. Tomos Williams

1. Nicky Smith
2. Elliot Dee
3. WillGriff John
4. Will Rowlands
5. Dafydd Jenkins
6. Jac Morgan (captain)
7. Tommy Reffell
8. Taulupe Faletau

Replacements:
16. Evan Lloyd
17. Gareth Thomas
18. Henry Thomas
19. Teddy Williams
20. Aaron Wainwright
21. Rhodri Williams
22. Jarrod Evans
23. Joe Roberts

Wales Six Nations team v Italy

15. Liam Williams
14. Tom Rogers
13. Nick Tompkins
12. Eddie James
11. Josh Adams
10. Ben Thomas
9. Tomos Williams

1. Gareth Thomas
2. Evan Lloyd
3. Henry Thomas
4. Will Rowlands
5. Dafydd Jenkins
6. James Botham
7. Jac Morgan (captain)
8. Taulupe Faletau

Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee
17. Nicky Smith
18. Keiron Assiratti
19. Freddie Thomas
20. Aaron Wainwright
21. Rhodri Williams
22. Dan Edwards
23. Blair Murray


Wales Six Nations team v France

15. Liam Williams
14. Tom Rogers
13. Nick Tompkins
12. Owen Watkin
11. Josh Adams
10. Ben Thomas
9. Tomos Williams

1. Gareth Thomas
2. Evan Lloyd
3. Henry Thomas
4. Will Rowlands
5. Dafydd Jenkins
6. James Botham
7. Jac Morgan (captain)
8. Aaron Wainwright

Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee
17. Nicky Smith
18. Keiron Assiratti
19. Freddie Thomas
20. Tommy Reffell
21. Rhodri Williams
22. Dan Edwards
23. Blair Murray


Wales Six Nations 2025 squad

Matt Sherratt has brought Max Llewellyn, Jarrod Evans and Gareth Anscombe into his squad. Liam Williams and Owen Watkin have been forced to drop out because of injury.

Forwards

Keiron Assiratti
James Botham
Elliot Dee
Taulupe Faletau
Dafydd Jenkins
Evan Lloyd
Kemsley Mathias
Jac Morgan (captain)
Sam Parry
Taine Plumtree
Tommy Reffell
Will Rowlands
Nicky Smith
Gareth Thomas
Freddie Thomas
Henry Thomas
Christ Tshinunza
Aaron Wainwright
Ben Warren
Teddy Williams

Backs

Josh Adams
Gareth Anscombe
Ellis Bevan
Dan Edwards
Jarrod Evans
Josh Hathaway
Eddie James
Max Llewellyn
Ellis Mee
Blair Murray
Joe Roberts
Tom Rogers
Ben Thomas
Nick Tompkins
Rhodri Williams
Tomos Williams



Wales Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2024

Round 1: v Scotland (Principality Stadium)

Starting XV: Cameron Winnett, Josh Adams, Owen Watkin, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer, Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Corey Domachowski, Ryan Elias, Leon Brown, Dafydd Jenkins (captain), Adam Beard, James Botham, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright

ReplacementsElliot Dee, Kemsley Mathias, Keiron Assiratti, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Tomos Williams, Ioan Lloyd, Mason Grady

Result: Wales 26-27 Scotland

Round 2: v England (Twickenham)

Starting XV: Cameron Winnett, Josh Adams, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer, Ioan Lloyd, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee, Keiron Assiratti, Dafydd Jenkins (captain), Adam Beard, Alex Mann, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Corey Domachowski, Archie Griffin, Will Rowlands, Taine Basham, Kieran Hardy, Cai Evans, Mason Grady

Result: England 16-14 Wales

Round 3: v Ireland (Aviva Stadium)

Starting XV: Cameron Winnett, Josh Adams, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer, Sam Costelow, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee, Keiron Assiratti, Dafydd Jenkins (captain), Adam Beard, Alex Mann, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Corey Domachowski, Dillon Lewis, Will Rowlands, Mackenzie Martin, Kieran Hardy, Ioan Lloyd, Mason Grady

Result: Ireland 31-7 Wales

Round 4: v France (Principality Stadium)

Starting XV: Cameron Winnett; Josh Adams, Joe Roberts, Owen Watkin, Rio Dyer; Sam Costelow, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Ryan Elias, Keiron Assiratti, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Dafydd Jenkins (captain), Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Corey Domachowski, Dillon Lewis, Alex Mann, Mackenzie Martin, Gareth Davies, Ioan Lloyd, Mason Grady

Result: Wales 24-45 France

Round 5: v Italy (Principality Stadium)

Starting XV: Cameron Winnett, Josh Adams, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer, Sam Costelow, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee, Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins (captain), Adam Beard, Alex Mann, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Kemsley Mathias, Dillon Harri O’Connor, Will Rowlands, Mackenzie Martin, Kieran Hardy, Ioan Lloyd, Mason Grady

Result: Wales 21-24 Italy


Wales Six Nations squad 2024

Forwards

Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby)

Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets)

Gareth Thomas (Ospreys)

Elliot Dee (Dragons)

Ryan Elias (Scarlets

Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby)

Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby)

Leon Brown (Dragons)

Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby)

Adam Beard (Ospreys)

Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs)

Will Rowlands (Racing 92)

Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby)

Taine Basham (Dragons)

James Botham (Cardiff Rugby)

Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby)

Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby)

Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers)

Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)

Backs 

Gareth Davies (Scarlets)

Kieran Hardy (Scarlets)

Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby)

Sam Costelow (Scarlets)

Cai Evans (Dragons)

Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets)

Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby)

George North (Ospreys)

Joe Roberts (Scarlets)

Nick Tompkins (Saracens)

Owen Watkin (Ospreys)

Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby)

Rio Dyer (Dragons)

Tom Rogers (Scarlets)

Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby)


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