Wales announce team to play Fiji

Blair Murray, selected on the wing, will win his first cap and become the 1,208th men’s international for Wales on Sunday.

Captain Dewi Lake is at hooker, Gareth Thomas (loose-head prop) and Archie Griffin (tight-head prop) join Lake in the front row.

Adam Beard and Will Rowlands return to the Wales starting line-up in the second row having missed the summer Tests in Australia.

Taine Plumtree is selected at blindside flanker, Tommy Reffell is at open-side and Aaron Wainwright completes the back row at No. 8.

Tomos Williams starts at scrum-half having missed the summer tour down under due to injury. Gareth Anscombe is named at fly-half, making his first Wales appearance since Rugby World Cup 2023.

Ben Thomas is selected at inside centre and Max Llewellyn, who will make his third appearance for Wales this weekend, partners Thomas in the midfield.

Cameron Winnett is named at full-back to make his eighth consecutive Test start for Wales and Mason Grady completes the starting XV on the wing.

There is a six-two split among the Wales replacements. Ryan Elias (hooker), Nicky Smith (loose-head prop) and Keiron Assiratti (tight-head prop) are the front row cover, with Christ Tshiunza, James Botham and Jac Morgan the other forward replacements.

Ellis Bevan and Sam Costelow are Wales’ replacement backs.

Gatland said: “We have excellent competition in the squad, so it was a tough selection and there were some close calls but I think there’s a really nice balance for Sunday. We have some experienced players back alongside some exciting youngsters.

“We know how dangerous Fiji can be, so we’ve got to make sure that we bring physicality and are ruthless on Sunday. We need to be switched on for the full 80 minutes.

“After four matches away from home, we cannot wait to get back out in front of a home crowd at Principality Stadium. It’s going to be a fantastic occasion and we’re looking forward to getting our Autumn Nations Series campaign underway.”

In addition, former international match official Nigel Owens, whose Test career spanned 17 years and 210 matches in total including 100 as referee, will join the Wales coaching staff on match days for the Autumn Nations Series in an advisory role.

Wales team to face Fiji 

15. Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby  – 7 caps)
14. Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 14 caps)
13. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 2 caps)
12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby  – 4 caps)
11. Blair Murray (Scarlets – uncapped / heb gap)
10. Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester Rugby – 37 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 58 caps)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 33 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 15 caps) captain / capten
3. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby  – 3 caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 33 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 56 caps)
6. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 5 caps)
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 20 caps)
8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 50 caps)

Replacements

16. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 41 caps)
17. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 46 caps)
18. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 7 caps)
19. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 12 caps)
20. James Botham (Cardiff Rugby – 13 caps)
21. Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 15 caps)
22. Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Rugby – 3 caps)
23. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 15 caps)