Francis returns for Wales as Hamer-Webb called up

In his Six Nations squad, England head coach Steve Tandy has named uncapped Leicester wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb and named prop Tomas Francis.

Since the 2023 World Cup quarter-final defeat by Argentina in Marseille, Francis, 33, has not played international rugby.

One of two uncapped players, along with Bath center Louie Hennessey, who played alongside him last fall, is Hamer-Webb, 25, who left Cardiff for Leicester at the beginning of the 2025-26 season.

Josh Macleod, Sam Costelow, James Botham, Owen Watkin, Mason Grady, Ryan Elias, and Rio Dyer, Tommy Reffell, Nick Tompkins, and Callum Sheedy are the returning players.

Hooker Dewi Lake, who is injured in the flanker, once more leads the squad, while injured center Max Llewellyn and number eight Taulupe Faletau are also available.

Wales have struggled to fill the tight-head prop void created by Francis, who has played 77 international matches, won Six Nations titles in 2019 and 2021, and participated in World Cups in 2015, 2019 and 2023.

For the first time in the 2026-27 season, Francis will join the French second division team Provence after leaving Ospreys in 2023.

One of three tight-head props that includes Keiron Assiratti and Archie Griffin is Francis, who will aim to compete in a fourth World Cup in Australia in 2017.

Hamer-Webb, a former Bath wing, qualified through his mother for Wales after playing for England in the age group.

Next week before the Six Nations opener against England on Saturday, 7 February, the Wales squad will work together.

Wales have lost the previous 11 matches, winning in March 2023 against Italy.

The fall squad has changed a few times, some of it because of injury, but others are a testament to the competition and the number of players we have, which is a real positive,” said Tandy.

“I believe the squad has a good blend going into this campaign, and we’re eager to get together next week,” he said.

I’m looking forward to returning to camp and seeing how we continue to build on the foundations laid in the fall and ensure that our group is continually growing and developing.

Lake will once more take the lead thanks to Tandy.

Tandy added, “Dewi is great man and so passionate about Wales, which I think everyone can see.”

I thought he excelled in the way he led the fall, both in the three games he captained and in the support he gave to Jac Morgan before that.