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The unlucky ones who missed out on Tandy's squad for the autumn Tests

Western Mail

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October 23, 2025

Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell is perhaps the biggest name to miss out

- DYLAN JAMES

The unlucky ones who missed out on Tandy's squad for the autumn Tests

There was a strong lobby for in-form Osprey Harri Deaves to be included

NEW Wales boss Steve Tandy has revealed his very first squad ahead of the upcoming autumn internationals and has included five uncapped players in a 39-player collective.

The headline selection is Rhys Carre the Saracens prop who was seemingly ineligible for selection under the 25 cap law before the Professional Rugby Board approved his call-up.

Quintet Brodie Coghlan, Danny Southworth, James Fender, Morgan Morse and Louie Hennessey are named in a Wales squad for the very first time.

Morse narrowly missed out on selection during the summer and finally gets his big chance. Prior to the announcement, it was also revealed that lock Will Rowlands had retired from international rugby.

While there will be plenty of smiling faces after the squad announcement, there are a multitude of players who'll be gutted to have missed out on selection.

We take a look at some of the most notable and inform players to have been left out of Tandy's first squad.

PERHAPS the most surprising absentee is Reffell, who has been a constant in the Wales squad for the last few years.

The openside flanker, who signed a new contract with Leicester Tigers earlier this year, was widely praised by fans for his consistency and superb work at the breakdown in an array of matches.

The fact he has been able to compete with Jac Morgan for a place in recent years says it all about the Bridgend man.

Tandy was asked about why he left out Reffell in a press conference and explained it was “really tough”.

While he noted Reffell had played in a few big games for Tigers, he added the 26-year-old had an injury at the beginning of the season and perhaps hadn't fully hit his stride.

The coach telephoned Reffell to deliver the bad news personally.

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