Wales recall Rees-Zammit for autumn Tests

Wales have recalled wing Louis Rees-Zammit for their autumn Tests, two years after he last played for his country and switched from rugby union to American football.

Despite winning contracts with the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars during an 18-month period, Rees-Zammit did not play a competitive NFL game.

The 24-year-old returned to rugby in August by signing a season-long deal at Bristol Bears, for whom he made a try-scoring debut in the Gallagher Prem.

Wales’ squad for their four matches in November also features recalls for Saracens prop Rhys Carre and Cardiff fly-half Callum Sheedy.

But Cardiff’s in-form teenage wing Tom Bowen misses out on a first call-up, while experienced Ospreys back row Ross Moriarty is overlooked.

There are five uncapped players in the 39-man squad: Ospreys second row James Fender and back row Morgan Morse, Dragons hooker Brodie Coghlan, Cardiff prop Danny Southworth and Bath centre Louie Hennessey.

Wales’ players will assemble at their training base on the outskirts of Cardiff on Monday, 27 October.

New head coach Steve Tandy will then begin his tenure with a match against Argentina on Sunday, 9 November, with Tests against Japan, New Zealand and South Africa to follow.

Those fixtures, which will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, represent a formidable first assignment for ex-Scotland defence coach Tandy.

He takes over a Wales side ranked 12th in the world and one that only broke an 18-match international losing sequence by beating Japan in Kobe in July.

“It’s been really exciting going through the whole process and realising how many good players we’ve got,” said Tandy.

“There’s a really good mix of some young guys coming in, mixed with some experience as well. But the overall feeling is really exciting and I can’t wait to get the boys into camp on Monday.

“It’s a new time and there are some new faces in and around the playing group as well.”

Carre has started the season strongly with Saracens, but was ineligible under Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) selection policy because he has 20 caps, five short of the required number for those playing for clubs outside Wales.

But in its statement confirming the squad, the WRU said Carre had been “included following confirmation by the Professional Rugby Board that he is eligible for Wales selection”.

Second rows Adam Beard and Dafydd Jenkins are back having missed the two-Test series in Japan over the summer because of being given a break and elective surgery respectively.

There are also returns for Jacob Beetham, Rhys Davies, Rio Dyer, Jarrod Evans, Joe Hawkins, Max Llewellyn and Nick Tompkins.

Forwards

Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff), Adam Beard (Montpellier), Liam Belcher (Cardiff), Rhys Carre (Saracens), Ben Carter (Dragons), Brodie Coghlan (Dragons), Christian Coleman (Dragons), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff), James Fender (Ospreys), Archie Griffin (Bath), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Alex Mann (Cardiff), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Morgan Morse (Ospreys), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), Danny Southworth (Cardiff), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).

Backs

All times GMT and at Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Sunday, 9 November – Wales v Argentina (15:10)

Saturday, 15 November – Wales v Japan (17:40)

Saturday, 22 November – Wales v New Zealand (15:10)

*Saturday, 29 November – Wales v South Africa (15:10)