The unluckiest players in Wales right now and the call that has left people baffled
There are many players unlucky to have missed out on Matt Sherratt's squad
Ospreys backrower Morgan Morse was unlucky to miss out on the Wales squad in the eyes of many
(Image: Steve Haag/Huw Evans Agency )
Many players would have been elated to be included in Matt Sherratt's 33-man Wales squad to tour Japan this summer.
But for every ecstatic player there are ones who are left disappointed and a bit baffled as to why they have not been included in the squad. Some have missed out due to injury, while there are two Welshmen - Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams - on the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia - but others have been omitted for other reasons.
Here are the omissions which have raised a few eyebrows among the Welsh public.
Morgan Morse
The 20-year-old is undoubtedly one of the best prospects in the Welsh game, if not the best, and his omission has left many supporters scratching their heads.
Morse is not just a player for the future but the here and now after putting in some impressive performances this season.
The Ospreys backrower is a dynamic and explosive carrier who rarely fails in making significant post-contact metres.
Article continues below
Morse is also a huge weapon at the breakdown while his work rate, physicality and his rugby intelligence marks the former Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera pupil out as a special talent.
But Sherratt is only the interim head coach and his focus is purely on winning two Test matches against Japan, whereas if he was the permanent boss there might have been more of an eye on the future. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
There is also the significant figure of Taulupe Faletau standing in Morse's way while Aaron Wainwright has proven himself to be a high-quality international No 8. The in-form Taine Plumtree can also cover that position.
But Morse does offer a different dynamic to those currently in the squad, while he can also cover the entire backrow.
Also, he arguably has a higher ceiling than those who have been selected ahead of him with the exception of the 34-year-old Faletau.
There's no doubt he will win many international caps but he could have really added some extra physicality and X-factor to this Wales squad.
What is even more of a head scratcher is the fact he has not been selected in the extended Wales U20s squad ahead of the U20s World Cup this summer.
James Fender
The 23-year-old was on Warren Gatland's radar last season but a series of injuries prevented the Ospreys lock from winning his first cap.
Fender has never failed to impress for the Ospreys with his physicality, manic work rate in defence and his lineout ability a big asset for the Welsh club.
Welsh rugby isn't exactly bursting at the seams with extremely physical no-nonsense locks who can dominate physically against the stronger packs, but Fender is one of them.
With experienced duo Will Rowlands and Adam Beard not selected now would arguably have been the perfect time to blood Fender as an international.
Sherratt has selected Fender's Ospreys team-mate James Ratti in the squad who is a bruiser of a second-row known for doing the unfashionable dirty work, which allows others to thrive.
But in the main Sherratt has gone for athleticism and mobility from his second-rows.
Cardiff second-row Teddy Williams will have a big part to play this summer while Gloucester's Freddie Thomas will suit the fast and expansive game Wales are likely to play in Japan.
Fender has a nice mix of athleticism and outright physicality and would arguably have been perfect for this tour.
The Ospreys lock will need to stay injury-free and start next season well in the hope of impressing Gatland's long-term successor.
James Botham
It has been a horrible season for the men's national side but Botham is one player who can hold his head up high because he has performed well in a poor side.
The absence of the Cardiff backrower from the Wales squad to tour Japan is a little surprising, especially considering he is coached by Sherratt at club level.
Of course, Sherratt cannot show any favouritism but Botham has performed well at both club and international level.
But if there is one position where Welsh rugby has some strength in depth it is at openside flanker. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
Tommy Reffell is a quality player and the Leicester Tigers man was always going to get selected but Sherratt has opted to give Scarlets captain Josh Macleod an opportunity, while there is also a recall for Cardiff's Alex Mann.
Macleod has been excellent for the Scarlets this season, leading from the front, while Mann has impressed for the Blue & Blacks of late.
Botham's athleticism and physicality along with the fact he covers the entire backrow would have come in handy but there is a lot of competition here.
Ryan Elias
The 30-year-old has always been a player who has come in for some unjust criticism from Welsh fans on social media, with his throwing in often criticised.
But the powerful hooker has been outstanding for the Scarlets in recent weeks and put in a superb performance in the shock victory over Leinster last month.
Elias has had a tough season with injury and was sidelined for a number of months with a neck and shoulder injury but he has come back with a bang.
Sherratt was always going to select Dewi Lake, who captains the squad, while Elliot Dee performed well during the Six Nations.
The Carmarthen man has missed out to Cardiff captain Liam Belcher who has been a consistent performer in the United Rugby Championship but it remains to be seen whether he has what it takes to successfully make the step up to Test rugby.
Elias' detractors usually fail to mention his scrummaging prowess, his size, his power and the fact he is one of the only front-five forwards in Wales able to make significant dents while carrying into heavy traffic.
On the other hand a summer off might do him good in preparation for a season where he will be determined to win back his place in the Wales squad.
Ellis Mee
The Scarlets man made an impressive start to his international career in the narrow defeat to Ireland but had a tough time against Scotland and England.
But Mee has been in good form for the Scarlets, putting in two excellent performances against Leinster and the victory over the Lions at high-altitude in Johannesburg.
Sherratt has opted to select Ospreys flyer Keelan Giles in the squad with his electric pace undoubtedly winning the day.
But Giles had a really tough time both defensively and especially under the high ball during the Ospreys' defeat to the Sharks a couple of weeks ago.
Those who have played and coached at Test level have always said if you make mistakes in the international arena then you get ruthlessly put to the sword. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
Mee is as safe as houses under the high ball with Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel comparing the wing to an Australian Rules player.
Article continues below
He is also strong in defence and during the Scarlets' victory over the Lions showed his strength to win the ball back on a few occasions with a couple of excellent counter rucks against big South African forwards.
But as Sherratt said in the week, Mee is likely to go on to win many more Wales caps despite this setback.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
15 minutes ago
- Wales Online
'I felt like a bag of bones - they told me I might never walk again'
'I felt like a bag of bones - they told me I might never walk again' Maisie Hill was almost killed by the amount of blood she lost Maisie had a major brain bleed, a lacerated liver and a punctured lung from the crash (Image: PA Real Life) A snowboarder who was told she may never walk again after a life-threatening crash left her feeling like a 'bag of bones' is back on the slopes, preparing for next year's Winter Olympics. GB Snowsport freestyle snowboarder Maisie Hill, 24, from Cheltenham, suffered severe injuries in January 2023 while training in Switzerland. Crashing at extreme speeds into a 'wall of ice' while practising a routine rail trick, Maisie said she was almost killed by the amount of blood she lost from a lacerated liver. She was transported by helicopter to Gaubunden Hospital in Chur, Switzerland, where she said she was told she may never walk again. She said the impact also punctured a lung, caused a major brain bleed and broke two vertebrae and four ribs. However, through sheer determination and a 'life-changing' grant from the Olympic Solidarity programme, within nine months Maisie was back on the slopes doing what she loves. She hopes to qualify for the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games in February 2026. 'As I lay on the ground after my crash, I felt like I was a bag of bones that someone had picked up and was jangling,' Maisie told PA Real Life. 'I remember the doctor listing all the injuries I had. It was horrible how many there were, it just went on and on. I was crying, wishing they'd stop talking. 'In my first season competing again (2023-24), I was very scared and was losing confidence in myself. However, I find that smiling every time I get back to the top of the slope helps me perform, reminding me how lucky I am and that I love snowboarding.' Maisie was introduced to snowboarding by her father aged eight on the hill behind their house in Cheltenham. When Maisie was 10 years old, she and her father moved to Morzine in the French Alps. Article continues below 'I didn't love snowboarding at first,' she said. 'But my dad always said I would be really good at it. I owe so much to his belief in me.' Maisie was told she may never walk again after the crash (Image: PA Real Life) By the time she was 16, Maisie said she was excelling in freestyle snowboarding and was invited by GB Snowsport to Laax in Switzerland to join their youth programme. Maisie moved there alone, renting a flat away from the slopes where it was cheaper, walking 20 minutes to a bus each morning. When she turned 18, however, she said she did not make the selection for the British World Cup squad. 'It felt like no-one believed in me, like I was just some silly girl,' she said. However, she knew that hard work and pure determination would get her into the team eventually. She spent the summer of 2021 in Switzerland snowboarding each day on the glacier. To afford it, she said she lived in a tent in Saas Grund, Switzerland and she worked as a cleaner or barista. Her parents, meanwhile, supported her by paying for a private coach, though Maisie understood it was a strain on them and would not last forever. In 2022, aged 21, she said she qualified to compete for Britain at her first World Cup, where she came seventh. Maisie said the following months were the happiest in her life, as she progressed rapidly and was loving every minute of snowboarding. In January 2023, she had just returned from a World Cup in Austria and was preparing for the next competition in Laax, Switzerland. 'It was a foggy day and I was tired,' she explained. 'I was just doing one last run before the tournament the following day. 'I don't know how, but I was going extremely fast and I slipped off a rail. I slammed into an ice wall.' Maisie knew instantly that everything had changed. 'I refused to breathe because I was panicking so much,' she said. 'I couldn't move, couldn't do anything.' Maisie said she was then air-lifted to Gaubunden Hospital in Chur, Switzerland, where she was told she may never walk again. She said she had broken two vertebrae and four ribs, punctured a lung, lacerated her liver and she had a major brain bleed. Despite the severity of her injuries, after her operation Maisie remembers the feeling of being able to wiggle her toes – she said it was a moment of pure relief. After the operation, she moved back to Cheltenham with her mother, and she said Team GB provided physio training. Slowly, she regained her strength, though it was not easy. Maisie said if you work hard enough, 'help will come' (Image: PA Real Life) 'They'd cut open my stomach, and my abs must have stored all my trauma because the first few times I tried to do a sit-up, I cried so emotionally,' she said. That summer in 2023, she said she received an email from the Olympic Solidarity programme, the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) global development initiative, saying she had been selected for a grant, after being nominated by GB Snowsport. 'I thought it was a scam at first,' Maisie said. 'But it was life-changing. I don't think my parents could have continued funding me. Suddenly I thought, 'I'm going to do this!'' The programme offers athletes from around the world a sum of money every four months leading up to the Olympics. 'It's amazing,' she said. 'If you work hard enough, help will come.' James Macleod, IOC Director of NOC Relations, Olympic Solidarity and Olympism365, said: 'Currently 438 athletes from 89 NOCs are receiving a monthly grant from Olympic Solidarity, supporting their journey to the next Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.' In October 2023, Maisie said she was able to go to New Zealand with her team. She said she was so excited by the prospect of snowboarding again that on her first run, she went so fast her coach told her to slow down. Less than a year after her life-threatening crash, she was competing at World Cups again. However, she soon found that her performances were getting worse, that she was losing confidence and was scared. She began working with a sports psychologist, appreciating that there was a lot of mental trauma hindering her performance. 'When I'd have a bad run, I'd be angry with myself,' she said. 'But I found this method, that every time I get back to the top, I find some reason to smile. When I'm smiling, I'm the best version of myself.' After coming fifth at an Austrian World Cup in March, Maisie said she is on track to qualify for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics next February. She hopes her smile and determination will take her there. Article continues below She continued: 'I remember my family watching a tournament on TV when I was younger and they said that I was the only one smiling. Doing it reminds me to make the most of my time and not waste it, and it reminds me that I just love snowboarding. It really works.'
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
US Open 2025: How to watch on TV and live stream in the UK
The US Open is back for another year with the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper all playing in New York. After the mixed doubles, which takes place across Tuesday and Wednesday, the fourth major tennis event of 2025 continues on Sunday as Alcaraz attempts to get revenge on Sinner for his Wimbledon final loss. British No.1 Draper, ranked No.5 in the world, will also fancy his chances in the men's singles having reached the semi-finals at last year's US Open. Raducanu famously clinched the title at Flushing Meadows four years ago and the Brit is looking to enjoy a deep run in the women's singles this year. Scroll down for details on how to watch the US Open on TV in the UK including which channel you need and information about live streaming… To watch the US Open on TV in the UK, the channel you need is Sky Sports Tennis. Sky Sports Tennis can be found on the linear channel number 407, while Sky Sports+, which is providing additional coverage, is number 410 for Sky Glass customers and 412 for Sky Q customers. You can live stream the US Open in the UK via Sky Go or NOW TV. If you're not a Sky customer, you can pay for a NOW TV day pass or sign up for a monthly subscription. A NOW TV day pass is currently available for £14.99 here. Sky Sports has exclusive coverage of the 2025 US Open. That means if you do not have a Sky subscription, and do not want to pay for NOW TV, you will not be able to watch the action from the Grand Slam tournament. More Trending However, Sky may upload some of the highlights to their YouTube page – which you can find here. The US Open day sessions will start at 4pm UK time and the night sessions will begin at 12am (midnight) UK time. The US Open singles main draw will be announced on Thursday, August 26. You can check the US Open website here for the official Order of Play every day of the tournament. MORE: Jannik Sinner suffers injury scare ahead of US Open title defence MORE: Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz partnership 'in doubt' ahead of US Open MORE: Emma Raducanu hires Rafael Nadal's former coach ahead of the US Open
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Carlos Alcaraz makes frantic 600-mile dash for Emma Raducanu to play US Open mixed doubles amid dating rumours
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CARLOS ALCARAZ has made a 600-mile dash to play in the revamped US Open mixed doubles event with Emma Raducanu. The Spaniard, 22, is set to be in action alongside the British No1 barely 24 hours on from winning the Cincinnati Open. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Carlos Alcaraz won the Cincinnati Open on Monday Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 7 Alcaraz boarded a private jet alongside Iga Swiatek Credit: X 7 The Spaniard, 22, confirmed that he would be playing in the US Open mixed doubles event Credit: X Alcaraz was 5-0 up in yesterday's final in Mason, Ohio before Jannik Sinner retired from the contest due to illness. With Sinner heavily compromised the contest only took 23 minutes, meaning Alcaraz may still be somewhat fresh for the mixed doubles. After completing his media duties, the five-time Grand Slam winner boarded a private jet alongside Cincinnati's women's champion Iga Swiatek, who is also set to take part in the mixed doubles. Asked about the revamped event ahead of his 600-mile dash, Alcaraz said: "It's good. The scheduling is not the best to be honest, playing tomorrow. But the concept of the mixed doubles, I love it. READ MORE IN TENNIS 'I feel like I can collapse' Jannik Sinner RETIRES midway through Cincinnati Open final "It's going to be new for me, which I love. I'm going to have so much fun, playing with Emma. "I will try to enjoy as much as I can. I will try to see how the court is going to be, the balls, everything. "I will treat it as a really important and good preparation for me. I will try to be at my best tomorrow after the trip to New York. "I'm probably going to sleep late, but I will try to bring my best tennis to help Emma get the win then let's see if we will get it, it's going to be fun and great to have those matches." BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 7 Emma Raducanu is delighted to be back in New York Credit: Instagram 7 Raducanu, 22, practised at Flushing Meadows on Monday Credit: Instagram This year's US Open mixed doubles event has been moved to the week before the tournament - with eight teams getting in on their combined singles rankings, and a further eight making it in via wildcards. Alcaraz and Raducanu have drawn Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula in round one - meaning that both British No1s will face off on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Emma Raducanu breaks silence on hiring eighth coach as she reveals what ex-Rafael Nadal guru will be working on The match is set to take place at 2pm local time (7pm BST). Raducanu, 22, was yesterday back at the scene of her incredible triumph four years ago. The Brit posted a picture of herself in front of her picture on the champions' wall, which also features a snap of 2022 men's winner Alcaraz. With Alcaraz still 600 miles away in Ohio, Raducanu practised on one of Flushing Meadows' outside courts at 6pm local time on Monday. Earlier this summer, speculation was rife about whether Alcaraz and Raducanu were dating. The world No35 has insisted that the pair are "just good friends". 'IT'S ALWAYS FUNNY' Reflecting on the speculation while chatting to The Guardian, Raducanu said: "I guess I'm like, it comes with the territory, people being so curious. "I think they're more curious about this news than any tennis results and tennis news. But I just keep myself to myself, my private life to one side. "It's always funny when people try to find something out, but I try not to read into it so much." Alcaraz's beaten Cincinnati Open final opponent Sinner is also in the mixed doubles draw. After his original partner Emma Navarro withdrew, the Italian teamed up with doubles world No1 Katerina Siniakova. Having retired due to illness yesterday, and having not boarded the private jet alongside Alcaraz and Swiatek, the Wimbledon champion appears almost certain to withdraw. Sinner and Siniakova are still down on the schedule to face Alexander Zverev and Belinda Bencic second on Louis Armstrong Stadium after 1:30pm local time (6:30pm BST). Speaking after yesterday's Cincinnati final, Sinner admitted that he would need "a couple of days of recovery". Swiatek, meanwhile, will partner Casper Ruud in New York. The pair are set to take Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe second on Arthur Ashe Stadium. 7 Jannik Sinner retired down 5-0 in the Cincinnati final Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
