Rees-Zammit set for Wales return with bench role against Argentina

The 24-year-old wing has not played for Wales since a 2023 World Cup quarter-final loss to Argentina following an unsuccessful 18-month stint in American Football at the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars where he failed to feature in a competitive NFL game.

Rees-Zammit returned to rugby with English Prem club Bristol in August but has been battling a toe injury sustained last month ahead of Wales' opening Autumn Nations Series international.

New head coach Steve Tandy has retained the same back-three –- Blair Murray, Tom Rogers and Josh Adams – from Wales' 31-22 win over Japan in Kobe in July, which ended their record run of 18 successive Test defeats.

"It's a real privilege to announce my first match day 23 for Wales," Tandy said Friday as he unveiled the team.

"I just want to see that 23 really go out there and express themselves on Sunday and enjoy every moment of representing the country in such a unique and special jersey."

Tandy has made seven changes from the Japan win with Wales captain Jac Morgan joining Alex Mann and Aaron Wainwright in the back row after missing the victory over the Brave Blossoms because of his British and Irish Lions tour role in Australia.

Rhys Carre, a prop with London club Saracens, makes his first Wales appearance for nearly three years after he was initially thought to be unavailable under the Welsh Rugby Union's selection policy.

Carre has 20 caps, five short of the stated number for those playing for clubs outside Wales, but the WRU said last month the Professional Rugby Board had confirmed the 27-year-old's eligibility.

The former Cardiff forward, joined by Dewi Lake and Keiron Assiratti in the front row, made his last Wales appearance in the 2023 Six Nations before falling out of favour under former coach Warren Gatland.

Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard pair up in the second row after they both missed the tour of Japan.

Dan Edwards and Tomos Williams are the half-backs, while Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn form the centre partnership.
'Resilient Cracknell'
Olly Cracknell, who plays for English Prem side Leicester, provides back-row cover on the bench and could now make his Test debut at the relatively advanced age of 31.

Tandy, who coached Cracknell at Welsh regional side the Ospreys, said: "He's an unbelievable professional and you see Olly's had to have resilience throughout his career.

"He's shown that, whether it be London Irish, then he goes to Leicester, plays minutes every week and he's battle-hardened and he's performing at a big club.

"So I'm just excited to see that transfer to the international arena."

Argentina, who beat both New Zealand and Australia during the recent southern hemisphere Rugby Championship, are due to name their side later Friday.

Wales (15-1)

Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Dan Edwards, Tomos Williams; Aaron Wainwright, Jac Morgan (capt), Alex Mann; Adam Beard, Dafydd Jenkins; Keiron Assiratti, Dewi Lake, Rhys Carre

Replacements: Liam Belcher, Nicky Smith, Archie Griffin, Freddie Thomas, Olly Cracknell, Kieran Hardy, Jarrod Evans, Louis Rees-Zammit

Coach: Steve Tandy (WAL)