Joe Hawkins, Rhys Carré, Tomas Francis and Olly Cracknell all come into starting line-up
Things don’t get any easier for the Wales Six Nations squad as last week’s trip to Twickenham is followed up by France paying the Principality Stadium a visit. Let’s just say the smart money would not be on Wales ending their 12-match championship losing streak on Sunday.
Head coach Steve Tandy has, unsurprisingly, made some changes to the starting XV who struggled so much in last weekend’s 48-7 defeat to England, but not as many as you might expect. Four new players are drafted into the line-up, while there are some positional shifts in the back row.
In the pack, last week’s replacement props – Rhys Carré and Tomas Francis (making his first start since the 2023 World Cup – are selected either side of hooker (and captain) Dewi Lake. Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard continue in the second row.
In the back row, Aaron Wainwright moves from number 8 to the blindside, with Alex Mann moving from blindside to openside. Olly Cracknell comes in at number 8, with Josh Macleod dropping out of the 23.
The only change in the backs is Joe Hawkins replacing Ben Thomas at inside centre. Louis Rees-Zammit continues at full-back, alongside wings Josh Adams and Ellis Mee. Eddie James is back at outside centre, behind a half-back duo of Dan Edwards and Tomos Williams.
Tandy has opted to switch from a 6-2 split on the bench to a 5-3 configuration. The five forwards are Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Archie Griffin, Ben Carter and Taine Plumtree. Backs cover is provided by Kieran Hardy, Jarrod Evans and Mason Grady.
Wales v France kicks off at 3.10pm GMT on Sunday 15 February, with free live coverage on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and RTÉ2/RTÉ Player in Ireland.
Wales Six Nations team v France – round 2
15. Louis Rees-Zammit
14. Ellis Mee
13. Eddie James
12. Joe Hawkins
11. Josh Adams
10. Dan Edwards
9. Tomos Williams
1. Rhys Carré
2. Dewi Lake (captain)
3. Tomas Francis
4. Dafydd Jenkins
5. Adam Beard
6. Aaron Wainwright
7. Alex Mann
8. Olly Cracknell
Replacements:
16. Ryan Elias
17. Nicky Smith
18. Archie Griffin
19. Ben Carter
20. Taine Plumtree
21. Kieran Hardy
22. Jarrod Evans
23. Mason Grady
Wales Six Nations team v England – round 1
15. Louis Rees-Zammit
14. Ellis Mee
13. Eddie James
12. Ben Thomas
11. Josh Adams
10. Dan Edwards
9. Tomos Williams
1. Nicky Smith
2. Dewi Lake (captain)
3. Archie Griffin
4. Dafydd Jenkins
5. Adam Beard
6. Alex Mann
7. Josh Macleod
8. Aaron Wainwright
Replacements:
16. Liam Belcher
17. Rhys Carré
18. Tomas Francis
19. Ben Carter
20. Taine Plumtree
21. Harri Deaves
22. Kieran Hardy
23. Mason Grady
Wales Six Nations squad 2026: Tandy’s 39-man squad
Forwards (21): Adam Beard (Montpellier), Liam Belcher (Cardiff), James Botham (Cardiff), Rhys Carre (Saracens), Ben Carter (Dragons), Olly Cracknell (Leicester), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), Harri Deaves (Ospreys), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Provence), Archie Griffin (Bath), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter), Dewi Lake (Ospreys, captain), Alex Mann (Cardiff), Josh Macleod (Scarlets), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Leicester), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Sam Wainwright (Cardiff).
Backs (18): Josh Adams (Cardiff), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), Mason Grady (Cardiff), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), Louie Hennessey (Bath), Eddie James (Scarlets), Ellis Mee (Scarlets), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Tomos Williams (Gloucester).
Wales Six Nations squad: 2026 fixtures at a glance
Sat 7 February, England v Wales (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham) Live on ITV in the UK
Sun 15 February, Wales v France (kick-off 3.10pm GMT, Principality Stadium, Cardiff) Live on the BBC in the UK
Sat 21 February, Wales v Scotland (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Principality Stadium, Cardiff) Live on the BBC in the UK
Fri 6 March, Ireland v Wales (kick-off 8.10pm GMT, Aviva Stadium, Dublin) Live on ITV in the UK
Sat 14 March, Wales v Italy (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Principality Stadium, Cardiff) Live on the BBC in the UK
Wales Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2025
Round 1: v France (Stade de France, Paris)
Result: France 43-0 Wales
Starting XV:
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
Round 2: v Italy (Stadio Olimpico, Rome)
Result: Italy 22-Wales 15
Starting XV:
15. Blair Murray
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. Freddie Thomas
6. James Botham
7. Jac Morgan (captain)
8. Taulupe Faletau
Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee
17. Nicky Smith
18. Keiron Assiratti
19. Teddy Williams
20. Aaron Wainwright
21. Rhodri Williams
22. Dan Edwards
23. Josh Hathaway
Round 3: v Ireland (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Result: Wales 18-27 Ireland
Starting XV:
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
Round 4: v Scotland (Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
Result: Scotland 35-29 Wales
Starting XV:
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. Dewi Lake
17. Gareth Thomas
18. Keiron Assiratti
19. Teddy Williams
20. Aaron Wainwright
21. Rhodri Williams
22. Jarrod Evans
23. Joe Roberts
Round 5: v England (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Result: Wales 14-68 England
Starting XV:
15. Blair Murray
14. Ellis Mee
13. Max Llewellyn
12. Ben Thomas
11. Joe Roberts
10. Gareth Anscombe
9. Tomos Williams
1. Nicky Smith
2. Elliot Dee
3. WillGriff John
4. Will Rowlands
5. Dafydd Jenkins
6. Aaron Wainwright
7. Jac Morgan (captain)
8. Taulupe Faletau
Replacements:
16. Dewi Lake
17. Gareth Thomas
18. Keiron Assiratti
19. Teddy Williams
20. Tommy Reffell
21. Rhodri Williams
22. Jarrod Evans
23. Nick Tompkins
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