Six players are suddenly in the conversation for Wales as new faces force their way in

Wales head coach Steve Tandy could look to new faces at the Nations Championship

Steve Tandy may not be turning Wales on this summer, but a few bolts have given him plenty to think about.

While none of Wales’ four professional sides are expected to challenge at the end of the domestic season, there are still plenty in the coming weeks.

The majority of the Six Nations squad may remain intact, but Steve Tandy could still turn to a few emerging talents as he looks to bolster depth and inject new energy into his squad.

Here are six potential bolters to contend with this summer.

Rhys Barratt

The 24-year-old loosehead has been outstanding for Cardiff this season and is a player who is definitely knocking on the international door.

Barratt is a solid professional, but he brings a lot more to his work ethic around the park.

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He’s an explosive, versatile player and a jackal threat, while also being a talented footballer, as evidenced by a stunning 50/22 in the win over Racing 92 in January.

Rhys Carré and Nicky Smith are obvious first-choice options, while Gareth Thomas is an experienced player.

But would Tandy want to develop a young boss behind Carré and Smith with the World Cup in mind?

Dean Gwynne

The 20-year-old has been penciled in to lead Wales U20s at the U20s World Cup in Georgia this summer.

But it is not out of favor for Tandy to decide to add a full-back to his wider Wales squad.

Gwynne is a serious prospect with the potential to develop into a senior international and is a regular on Gloucester’s 23rd birthday.

The man from Aberystwyth is a strong rider who hits hard on defense while technically Gwynne is very good on the grid and on the break.

It’s a matter of whether or not Gwynne represents Wales at senior level.

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Bryan Bradley

The Harlequins center is a big man at 6ft 5in and 16st 10lb.

Bradley has started to get more minutes for a struggling Harlequins side this season and has impressed.

The former Wales U20s center has dual qualities and is an explosive footballer with a good passing game, who was once compared to Jamie Roberts.

He is definitely a player who can be an asset to the Tandy side in the future.

It is not unreasonable to think that England will also target Bradley and may consider selecting the 22-year-old from their A team.

Tandy could do worse than to add Bradley to his wider squad this summer.

James Williams

Pat Lam once described Williams as the Roy Keane of his Bristol Bears side.

The no-nonsense center is the glue that holds the Bears backline together and is a vital part of their team.

Williams is a completely different style to Bradley and can cover the outside half.

The 29-year-old is a physical 12-ball player as well as a goalscorer so he would suit the central style that attack coach Matt Sherratt once favoured.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Tandy wanted to take a closer look at Williams this summer with next year’s World Cup in mind.

The only question mark is whether he is too similar in style to Joe Hawkins and Ben Thomas.

Kane James

The Exeter Chiefs player is one of the best prospects in the English game and was a key part of England winning the U20s World Cup in 2024.

James was born in Haverfordwest but came through St Peters RFC in Cardiff before being selected by the Kings.

He is eligible for Wales, England and New Zealand so Tandy has a real battle on his hands if he is to persuade James to represent the country of his birth.

James is an explosive carrier with the X-factor, while his rebounding and physicality are the real difference.

The Exeter Chiefs midfielder was injured on the night before the Six Nations but Tandy could do worse than selecting the 20-year-old for his Nations Cup debut.

Lewis Lloyd

Wales are strong on the hook with Dewi Lake, Ryan Elias, Elliot Dee, Liam Belcher and Brodie Coghlan, among others, in the frame.

But Lloyd has been outstanding for the Ospreys and is a player with a high ceiling.

The 23-year-old is solid on the bench but always around the park.

Lloyd is an explosive bomber and works very well in wide channels.

Tandy could name an expanded squad to look at a few new faces, and if he does, Lloyd should be considered.

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