Louis Rees‑Zammit will make his first international start since returning to rugby union from the NFL when Wales host Japan in Cardiff on Saturday, a game that is vital to Wales’ hopes of securing a better 2027 Rugby World Cup draw.
Rees‑Zammit resumed his rugby career in August after joining Premiership side Bristol Bears, following an 18‑month spell with the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars as he attempted to switch to American football. The 24‑year‑old earned his first Wales cap since the 2023 World Cup quarter‑final when he came off the bench in last Sunday’s 52‑28 defeat to Argentina, and he has now been named in Steve Tandy’s starting XV to win his 34th cap. His inclusion is one of four changes made by Tandy.
Wales squad to face Japan
Wales starting XV:
15. Blair Murray, 14. Louis Rees‑Zammit, 13. Max Llewellyn, 12. Ben Thomas, 11. Josh Adams, 10. Dan Edwards, 9. Tomos Williams, 8. Olly Cracknell, 7. Alex Mann, 6. Aaron Wainwright, 5. Adam Beard, 4. Dafydd Jenkins, 3. Archie Griffin, 2. Dewi Lake (c), 1. Nicky Smith
Replacements:
16. Liam Belcher, 17. Rhys Carre, 18. Keiron Assiratti, 19. Freddie Thomas, 20. Taine Plumtree, 21. Kieran Hardy, 22. Jarrod Evans, 23. Nick Tompkins
With captain Jac Morgan ruled out for the remainder of the autumn series after dislocating his shoulder against Argentina, Alex Mann shifts to openside flanker and Aaron Wainwright starts at blindside. Olly Cracknell comes into the number eight jersey after making his debut as a replacement last weekend. Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin start after Rhys Carre and Keiron Assiratti drop to the bench. The match kicks off at 5.40pm.
Why the Japan match matters for Wales
Wales are seeking to end a run of 10 consecutive home international defeats, but victory over Japan has added importance because of the looming 2027 Rugby World Cup draw. The expanded 24‑team tournament in Australia will be drawn on December 3, and World Rugby Rankings at the time determine seeding across four bands.
The top six teams will occupy band one, teams ranked seventh to 12th band two, and the next groups of six make up bands three and four. Wales sit 12th in the rankings and are provisionally the final team in band two. Japan are 13th, just 0.32 points behind Wales; if the Brave Blossoms secure at least a draw in Cardiff, they would leapfrog Wales and push Wales into band three, leading to a tougher pool at the World Cup.
Japan travel to play 11th‑placed Georgia in Tbilisi on November 22, while Wales finish their autumn series with matches against New Zealand and South Africa, ranked second and first respectively. Rankings use a points‑exchange system, where teams gain or lose points based on match results.
Wales can take encouragement from their most recent meeting with Eddie Jones’s side: they beat Japan 31‑22 in Kobe in July, ending an 18‑match losing streak.