Reffell and Cracknell left out as Wales name 39-man squad for Nations Championship

Tommy Reffell and Olly Cracknell have been left out of Wales’s 39-man Nations Championship squad despite their consistent form for Leicester in the Gallagher Premiership. Head coach Steve Tandy named his group on Monday for fixtures against Japan, New Zealand and Australia, plus a closing match at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on finals weekend.

Their Leicester club colleagues Aaron Wainwright and Gabe Hamer-Webb were both selected, as were three uncapped players: Cardiff loosehead prop Rhys Barrett, Dragons scrum-half Che Hope and Dragons centre Aneurin Owen. The squad carries an average age of 27 and includes 14 players based in England and one in France.

Toby Faletau is another notable back-row absentee. The 35-year-old only recently returned from injury for Cardiff in the Champions Cup but has not been recalled. Faletau turns 36 in November and has stated his ambition to feature at a fourth Rugby World Cup in Australia next year. Saracens centre Nick Tompkins also misses out.

Hope’s inclusion is partly circumstantial — Ospreys scrum-half Kieran Hardy is facing a lengthy lay-off with a knee injury. Owen earns his opportunity after impressing for the Dragons in the United Rugby Championship, while Barrett’s selection rounds out the uncapped trio.

Cardiff centre Ben Thomas is ruled out with a calf problem, though Scarlets outside-half Sam Costelow has been included despite picking up an injury against Newcastle last weekend.

Among those returning to the fold are Liam Belcher, Tomas Francis, Archie Griffin, Louie Hennessey and Dafydd Jenkins, all of whom were unavailable for the July window of the Nations Championship. Taine Basham, Seb Davies and Rio Dyer also receive call-ups.

“We’re excited to head into our three home rounds of the competition,” said Tandy. “Principality Stadium is a special place to play and means an awful lot to the players. When we assemble as a group next week all eyes will be on that first home fixture against Japan and preparing well to put in a good performance for the fans.”

Tandy added: “It’s great to welcome back the players who were unavailable for the first three rounds of the Nations Championship. Added to that, there are a number of players who’ve been in great form for their clubs and so we wanted to give them an opportunity in the squad this autumn.”