Wales forced to reshape Nations Championship squad after Dafydd Jenkins injury

Wales will be without Dafydd Jenkins for their summer Nations Championship campaign after the Exeter lock was ruled out with a shoulder injury that requires surgery. Steve Tandy has now named a reduced 33-player squad for Tests against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa.

Jenkins' absence is a major forward-pack setback: he started all five Six Nations matches and Wales are left with Ben Carter, Teddy Williams and Adam Beard as their three specialist locks. Exeter are hopeful surgery can put the 31-cap forward on course for the start of the 2026-27 season, but that remains a recovery projection rather than a confirmed return date.

The trimmed squad includes two uncapped players, Ospreys tight-head prop Ben Warren and Exeter back-row Kane James. Tommy Reffell is also included after missing out on selection for the previous autumn and Six Nations campaigns, while several players from the Barbarians fixture group, including Rhys Barratt, Harri Keddie and Ryan Woodman, have not made the final cut.

Wales open against Fiji at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday 4 July before travelling for Tests against Argentina and South Africa. The key selection question now is whether Tandy's squad has enough tight-five cover to absorb the loss of one of its most influential forwards.