Wales head coach Byron Tandy has cut 11 players from his Nations Championship squad, with Dafydd Jenkins among those missing due to injury. The second-row forward suffered a knock during Wales' recent defeat to the Barbarians, leaving the coach with difficult selection decisions ahead of the three-Test campaign.

Three debutants - Rhys Barratt, Harri Keddie and Ryan Woodman - along with several established players including Gabriel Hamer-Webb and Jarrod Evans, will miss out on the squad. Meanwhile, Tommy Reffell earns selection after being overlooked for the autumn internationals, providing welcome reinforcement for Tandy.

Jenkins' absence leaves Wales light in the lock department, with captain Jake Ball, Ben Carter, Teddy Williams and Adam Beard now the primary options at second-row. Tandy emphasized the need for squad competition, stating the 33-player squad is structured to mirror requirements for the 2027 World Cup.

The Nations Championship begins against Fiji this weekend, with Wales aiming to build momentum in this new three-Test competition. The squad selections reflect Tandy's focus on developing squad depth while managing existing injury concerns across the roster.