Wales' Six Nations squad depth chart emerges after Gatland hit by departures

With the URC season well underway, Wales head coach Warren Gatland will be looking at potential players ahead of the 2024 Six Nations.

Depth is always important within rugby, as we have seen in the URC with the four Welsh professional clubs carrying smaller squads this season amid budget cuts.

So, after some high-profile retirements and a lot of uncertainty in Wales for players, just what does Wales’ depth chart look like ahead of the Six Nations?

Players who are options in multiple positions are listed in italics.

Full-back: Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams,Cai Evans, Cameron Winnett, Jacob Beetham, Tom Rogers, Jonny McNicholl

With the departure of Leigh Halfpenny to New Zealand and Liam Williams heading to Japan, full-back could become a problem position for Warren Gatland.

Of course, there's the likelihood that one of either Josh Adams or Louis Rees-Zammit could fill in there while a long-term option is developed.

Cai Evans made his international debut against South Africa in Wales’ final World Cup warm-up and was named man of the match for the Dragons in their URC win against the Ospreys at Rodney Parade just last weekend, so there are positive signs there.

Young Cardiff duo Cameron Winnett and Jacob Beetham have featured in the URC and are tipped for bright futures, while Johnny McNicholl has started four Scarlets games at full-back this term.

Tom Rogers is an option after spending the end of last season at 15 for his region, but his three appearances in a Welsh shirt have come on the wing.

Wing:Josh Adams, Louis Rees-Zammit, Rio Dyer, Tom Rogers, Johnny McNicholl, Alex Cuthbert, Theo Cabango, Mason Grady

The wing positions have remained rather settled since Rees-Zammit arrived on the international scene. Whilst he and Adams have flirted with a move to fullback, in an ideal world wing would be their best option.

Behind them, Rio Dyer has had a solid start to his international career and is impressing Gatland, while Rogers has had more time on the wing compared to 15 and has shown some nice moments.

McNicholl is arguably better suited to fullback, while Mason Grady has spent most of his time at outside centre, even if he does have the pace to be a danger out wide.

Elsewhere, uncapped Theo Cabango and Alex Cuthbert are currently out injured but could return to action ahead of the Six Nations to put themselves in the mix.

Outside centre: George North, Mason Grady, Joe Roberts, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin

Following multiple centre pairings tried out by Wayne Pivac in his tenure, it seems that it has settled down since the summer.

George North remains first-choice in the 13 shirt with Cardiff centre Grady behind. Joe Roberts was involved in Wales’ summer preparations and impressed on debut in Twickenham.

Nick Tompkins has settled in at inside centre, whilst injury hampered Ospreys centre Owen Watkin last season, who could return to the international fold if given a run of games at club level.

Inside centre:Nick Tompkins, Johnny Williams, Keiran Williams, Aneurin Owen, Eddie James, Max Llewellyn

As previously mentioned, Tompkins has made this shirt his own following an impressive World Cup campaign.

Johnny Williams hasn’t quite hit the ground running on the international scene, although he could yet feature. There’s plenty of promise from Keiran Williams who offers plenty of direct carrying, whilst Max Llewellyn does seem like a Gatland-type centre.

Scarlets’ Eddie James looks like a future prospect and Aneurin Owen is finding form at the Dragons after a long time out.

Fly-half: Sam Costelow, Callum Sheedy, Ioan Lloyd, Will Reed, Cai Evans

Along with full-back, fly-half seems to be another problem position with the retirement of Dan Biggar and Gareth Anscombe departing for Japan. The likes of Rhys Patchell, Jarrod Evans, Sam Davies and Rhys Priestland have also been lost to the national team as well.

Sam Costelow would now be first-choice but suffered an injury against the Barbarians which will rule him out of action until January.

Callum Sheedy has performed well when needed for Wales yet has struggled to find consistency with English Premiership side Bristol Bears in the past year. He appears to be returning to his best form in recent weeks, though, and should return to the international fold as things stand.

Dragons fly-half Will Reed and Scarlets’ Ioan Lloyd still lack experience of playing at 10 in the senior game, with Cai Evans an emergency option as a full-back who can slot in at outside half.

Scrum-half: Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Kieran Hardy, Rhodri Williams

Arguably the most settled position in terms of squad selection, yet identifying who is first-choice can be tricky.

Gareth Davies had a good World Cup as first-choice but Tomos Williams will want to have a say in that debate.

Kieran Hardy has started all but one of Scarlets’ URC games this season and Rhodri Williams has impressed for Dai Flanagan’s Dragons over the course of the season.

Loosehead prop: Gareth Thomas, Corey Domachowski, Nicky Smith, Rhys Carre, Kemsley Mathias

Ospreys prop Gareth Thomas seems to be first-choice at the moment, despite Toby Booth opting to start Nicky Smith at times last season.

Corey Domachowski is second-choice after growing into international rugby, with Scarlets’ Kelsey Mathias behind Smith in the pecking order.

Is there a way back in for Rhys Carre following his World Cup axing? He would certainly hope so.

Hooker: Dewi Lake, Ryan Elias, Elliott Dee, Bradley Roberts, Sam Parry

With Ken Owens out injured, trying to nail down the first-choice hooker has seemed tricky over the last year.

Both Dewi Lake and Ryan Elias have shown what they can do around the park, yet at times it’s their lineout throwing which has let them down.

Dragons’ Elliott Dee provides a stable lineout ball, whilst Bradley Roberts and Sam Parry have outside chances of breaking back Into the squad.

Tighthead prop: Tomos Francis, Henry Thomas, Dillon Lewis, Keiron Assiratti, Lloyd Fairbrother, Harri O’Connor

Another position which seems to be a slight problem is tighthead prop.

With Tomos Francis, Henry Thomas and Dillon Lewis all plying their trade outside of Wales, they would miss crucial training time with the squad as they would be released back to their clubs.

Keiron Assiratti featured against the Springboks in the summer but was ruled out of the Barbarians fixture with an injury.

Then comes Lloyd Fairbrother and Harri O’Connor, the two players that were late call ups for the Barbarians fixture.

Second-row: Adam Beard, Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins, Rhys Davies, Teddy Williams, Ben Carter, Christ Tshuinza

Despite the retirement of Alun Wyn Jones, it is not all bad in the boiler room.

Adam Beard and Will Rowlands have formed a good second-row partnership, while Exeter Chiefs’ Dafydd Jenkins played an important role off the bench out in France and is impressing for Exeter since then.

Then a trio of players from the regions follow, with all three having been involved in the Welsh set-up.

Ben Carter and Teddy Williams featured in the Baa-Baas game in November, while Rhys Davies has had a good start to the URC season.

Blindside flanker:Aaron Wainwright, Christ Tshuinza,Taine Plumtree, Dan Lydiate, Alex Mann, Shane Lewis-Hughes

It's quite a youthful selection to pick from at blindside flanker, with a big battle for the starting jersey.

Aaron Wainwright, Christ Tshuinza and Dan Lydiate were picked for the World Cup as Taine Plumtree was ruled out with injury.

Alex Mann has started the season strong for Cardiff in the URC, whilst Shane Lewis-Hughes picked up three caps in 2020 under Pivac and had been playing the majority of his rugby at 6 despite starting this term in the second row.

Openside flanker: Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Taine Basham, Thomas Young, Harri Deaves, Dan Davis

Despite the international retirement of Justin Tipuric, the openside flanker factory in Wales hasn’t slowed down.

Tipuric’s club-mate Jac Morgan and Leicester Tigers’ Tommy Reffell have been battling it out all year.

Taine Basham will be back from suspension in time for the international season and Thomas Young is returning to fitness at Cardiff.

Beyond them, the development chain of back-rowers continues with Scarlets’ Dan Davis and Ospreys’ Harri Deaves.

Number 8: Taulupe Faletau, Aaron Wainwright, Taine Plumtree, Morgan Morris, Carwyn Tuipulotu

Gatland will be hoping that Taulupe Faletau will return to fitness for the Six Nations, although there’s plenty of cover if needed.

Aaron Wainwright is a useful option at number 8 and Taine Plumtree could also move there if needed.

Some would argue Morgan Morris has been unfairly overlooked in recent years, given he has been consistently performing for the Ospreys over the last couple of seasons.

Finally, Scarlets number 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu could be one for the future as he takes over from Sione Kalamafoni in the Scarlets' back row.