Tshiunza Named in Welsh Autumn Nations Series Squad

Exeter Chiefs lock Christ Tshiunza has been named in Warren Gatland's Welsh Autumn Nations Series squad.

Senior men’s head coach Gatland has named a 35-player squad to come into camp on Monday 28 October to begin preparations for the Autumn Nations Series.

Wales face Fiji, Australia and South Africa on consecutive weekends this November at Principality Stadium. Some tickets are still availble to purchase here.

Dewi Lake will captain the side again this November having done so on the Summer Tour to Australia.

Two uncapped players are selected among the 19 forwards and 16 backs named today: second row Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby) and Scarlets’ wing Blair Murray.

Adam Beard, Ryan Elias, Jac Morgan, Will Rowlands, Henry Thomas and Tomos Williams return to the squad having missed the Tests in Australia this summer due to injury or being rested.

There are also recalls for Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn, Tom Rogers, Nicky Smith and Rhodri Williams, in a Wales squad that has an average age of 25.

Gatland said: “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.

“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.”

Regarding the captaincy, Gatland added: “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.”

First up Fiji make a trip to the Welsh capital on 10 November (KO 13:40). This will be the 15th Test match and 18th fixture overall between the two nations, having first met just over 60 years ago (26 September 1964) when a Wales XV won 28 – 22 at Cardiff Arms Park.

The Wallabies are the next team in town the following weekend (17 November, KO 14:10), with Wales hosting Australia in Cardiff after two Test matches down under this summer.

To close a huge Autumn Nations Series 2024, Wales take on world champions South Africa on 23 November (KO 17:40). This fixture will help mark the stadium’s 25th anniversary, having opened in the summer of 1999 with a match against South Africa as Wales celebrated their first victory against the Springboks.

Wales:

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 / Caerdydd – 7 caps)