Archive November 5, 2025

Louis Rees-Zammit “has a few boxes left to tick” if he is to make his Wales return in the autumn opener against Argentina on Sunday.

The Steve Tandy era starts with a fixture against the Pumas at the Principality Stadium (15:10 GMT).

The new head coach names his first side on Friday and Rees-Zammit is in the mix for a first Test appearance since the 2023 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina in Marseille.

The wing has been sidelined by a toe injury suffered with Bristol at the start of October but is fit for selection.

“He progressed back last week and [has had] a full training week this week,” said assistant coach Danny Wilson.

The 24-year-old switched to American football the following January but returned to rugby this summer on a season-long contract with Bristol.

Rees-Zammit is fighting for selection in the back three with Blair Murray, Josh Adams, Tom Rogers, Rio Dyer and Jacob Beetham.

Even if it is deemed too much of a risk to field him in the XV his presence in the match-day squad would give the Welsh Rugby Union a boost for ticket sales.

Wales ended an 18-Test losing streak against Japan in July when Matt Sherratt was interim head coach.

Tandy has taken the reins after leaving his role as defence coach with Scotland and has added Sherratt and Wilson, who was a summer assistant, to his management team.

Former internationals Rhys Patchell, Duncan Jones and Dan Lydiate will also help with the coaching for a tough November schedule.

Wales are ranked 12th in the world and go up against sixth-placed Argentina, second-placed New Zealand and first-placed South Africa along with 13th-placed Japan.

Tandy will be expected to beat the Brave Blossoms with the Pumas appearing to be the most likely Rugby Championship scalp.

Wilson, who left his role as Harlequins boss for the international opportunity, wants to see progress from a new-look squad regardless of results.

“We have talked about that if you close your eyes, you’ll eventually see and be able to describe how Wales will play with the identity and game model that we want to create,” said the former Dragons, Scarlets and Cardiff coach.

“That takes a little bit of time and there are stepping stones to put in place to build that.

Louis Rees-Zammit “has a few boxes left to tick” if he is to make his Wales return in the autumn opener against Argentina on Sunday.

The Steve Tandy era starts with a fixture against the Pumas at the Principality Stadium (15:10 GMT).

The new head coach names his first side on Friday and Rees-Zammit is in the mix for a first Test appearance since the 2023 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina in Marseille.

The wing has been sidelined by a toe injury suffered with Bristol at the start of October but is fit for selection.

“He progressed back last week and [has had] a full training week this week,” said assistant coach Danny Wilson.

The 24-year-old switched to American football the following January but returned to rugby this summer on a season-long contract with Bristol.

Rees-Zammit is fighting for selection in the back three with Blair Murray, Josh Adams, Tom Rogers, Rio Dyer and Jacob Beetham.

Even if it is deemed too much of a risk to field him in the XV his presence in the match-day squad would give the Welsh Rugby Union a boost for ticket sales.

Wales ended an 18-Test losing streak against Japan in July when Matt Sherratt was interim head coach.

Tandy has taken the reins after leaving his role as defence coach with Scotland and has added Sherratt and Wilson, who was a summer assistant, to his management team.

Former internationals Rhys Patchell, Duncan Jones and Dan Lydiate will also help with the coaching for a tough November schedule.

Wales are ranked 12th in the world and go up against sixth-placed Argentina, second-placed New Zealand and first-placed South Africa along with 13th-placed Japan.

Tandy will be expected to beat the Brave Blossoms with the Pumas appearing to be the most likely Rugby Championship scalp.

Wilson, who left his role as Harlequins boss for the international opportunity, wants to see progress from a new-look squad regardless of results.

“We have talked about that if you close your eyes, you’ll eventually see and be able to describe how Wales will play with the identity and game model that we want to create,” said the former Dragons, Scarlets and Cardiff coach.

“That takes a little bit of time and there are stepping stones to put in place to build that.

Louis Rees-Zammit “has a few boxes left to tick” if he is to make his Wales return in the autumn opener against Argentina on Sunday.

The Steve Tandy era starts with a fixture against the Pumas at the Principality Stadium (15:10 GMT).

The new head coach names his first side on Friday and Rees-Zammit is in the mix for a first Test appearance since the 2023 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina in Marseille.

The wing has been sidelined by a toe injury suffered with Bristol at the start of October but is fit for selection.

“He progressed back last week and [has had] a full training week this week,” said assistant coach Danny Wilson.

The 24-year-old switched to American football the following January but returned to rugby this summer on a season-long contract with Bristol.

Rees-Zammit is fighting for selection in the back three with Blair Murray, Josh Adams, Tom Rogers, Rio Dyer and Jacob Beetham.

Even if it is deemed too much of a risk to field him in the XV his presence in the match-day squad would give the Welsh Rugby Union a boost for ticket sales.

Wales ended an 18-Test losing streak against Japan in July when Matt Sherratt was interim head coach.

Tandy has taken the reins after leaving his role as defence coach with Scotland and has added Sherratt and Wilson, who was a summer assistant, to his management team.

Former internationals Rhys Patchell, Duncan Jones and Dan Lydiate will also help with the coaching for a tough November schedule.

Wales are ranked 12th in the world and go up against sixth-placed Argentina, second-placed New Zealand and first-placed South Africa along with 13th-placed Japan.

Tandy will be expected to beat the Brave Blossoms with the Pumas appearing to be the most likely Rugby Championship scalp.

Wilson, who left his role as Harlequins boss for the international opportunity, wants to see progress from a new-look squad regardless of results.

“We have talked about that if you close your eyes, you’ll eventually see and be able to describe how Wales will play with the identity and game model that we want to create,” said the former Dragons, Scarlets and Cardiff coach.

“That takes a little bit of time and there are stepping stones to put in place to build that.

Manager Oliver Glasner says Crystal Palace have asked the Premier League to rearrange their meeting with Leeds on 21 December to avoid playing twice in three days.

Palace are facing a busy final month of the year with eight fixtures scheduled in December as they compete in the Premier League, Carabao Cup and Conference League.

They are due to face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on 23 December – just two days after a trip north to Elland Road in the league.

Arsenal have also called for their Premier League game at at Everton on the same day to be moved.

“We are trying the same thing that Arsenal are trying, to move our Leeds game [currently scheduled for Sunday 21 December] forward to Saturday [20 December], so we don’t have two days between these games,” said Glasner.

The other three quarter-finals take place in the previous week, but the Eagles host Finnish club KuPS in the Conference League at Selhurst Park on 18 December.

Uefa’s European calendar now stretches across 10 midweeks, rather than the six as it did two seasons ago, with the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League each given a standalone week for exposure.

It has caused a huge logistical headache, with the third round of the EFL Cup having to be seeded and played across two weeks to keep clubs in the Champions League and Europa League apart.

“I am always talking about making mistakes being part of development,” added Glasner.

“I think that the EFL and the Premier League didn’t solve this problem before the start of the season. They will learn from it and I am pretty sure that next year they will have the solution before the start of the season.

Manager Oliver Glasner says Crystal Palace have asked the Premier League to rearrange their meeting with Leeds on 21 December to avoid playing twice in three days.

Palace are facing a busy final month of the year with eight fixtures scheduled in December as they compete in the Premier League, Carabao Cup and Conference League.

They are due to face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on 23 December – just two days after a trip north to Elland Road in the league.

Arsenal have also called for their Premier League game at at Everton on the same day to be moved.

“We are trying the same thing that Arsenal are trying, to move our Leeds game [currently scheduled for Sunday 21 December] forward to Saturday [20 December], so we don’t have two days between these games,” said Glasner.

The other three quarter-finals take place in the previous week, but the Eagles host Finnish club KuPS in the Conference League at Selhurst Park on 18 December.

Uefa’s European calendar now stretches across 10 midweeks, rather than the six as it did two seasons ago, with the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League each given a standalone week for exposure.

It has caused a huge logistical headache, with the third round of the EFL Cup having to be seeded and played across two weeks to keep clubs in the Champions League and Europa League apart.

“I am always talking about making mistakes being part of development,” added Glasner.

“I think that the EFL and the Premier League didn’t solve this problem before the start of the season. They will learn from it and I am pretty sure that next year they will have the solution before the start of the season.