Senior men’s head coach Matt Sherratt has named the Wales team to play Japan in the first Test at a sold-out Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu on Saturday 5 July (KO 06.00h BST, live on BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer).
Josh Macleod starts at openside flanker to make his first appearance for Wales since the 2022 Autumn Nations Series.
Alex Mann is selected at blindside flanker and Taulupe Faletau completes the back row at No. 8.
Sam Costelow and Ben Carter return to the starting line-up at fly-half and lock respectively, having both missed the 2025 Guinness Six Nations due to injury. Teddy Williams joins Carter in the second row.
Kieran Hardy is named at scrum-half for his first Wales appearance this season.
Johnny Williams is selected at outside centre, having last featured for Wales at Rugby World Cup 2023. Ben Thomas partners Williams in the midfield.
Captain Dewi Lake starts at hooker, Nicky Smith is at loosehead prop and tighthead prop Keiron Assiratti completes the front row.
Josh Adams and Tom Rogers are selected on the wings, while Blair Murray completes the starting XV at fullback.
There is a six-two split among the Wales replacements.
Hooker Liam Belcher is in line to make his Wales debut off the bench. Archie Griffin, who missed the Guinness Six Nations due to injury, provides cover at tighthead prop and Gareth Thomas is the cover at loosehead prop.
James Ratti, Aaron Wainwright and Tommy Reffell provide the remaining forward cover.
Rhodri Williams and Joe Roberts are the replacement backs.
Sherratt said: “We've had a very good build-up. We tried to give everyone a fair chance of selection.
“One of the key messages was it's going to be a 23-man job. So, we've tried to spread the experience out in terms of getting some experience coming off the bench.
“I think an 80-minute performance, that physical edge and making sure that we transfer training into the game is going to be the biggest thing for us.
“It's going to be humid. It's going to be hot. Japan traditionally play quite a fast brand of rugby, so us getting up to speed with that is going to be key.
“We've seen from just being around Kitakyushu this last week, there seems to be a real affinity between some of the Japanese locals and the Welsh team. Hopefully it will be fantastic on Saturday.”
On Josh Macleod and Liam Belcher Sherratt added: “Something we made a big point of in the first team meeting. There's a number of players who've worked their way back into the squad.
“Josh Macleod is an obvious one. He’s struggled with some injuries, had a real rollercoaster over the last three or four years, so him coming back in is massive.
“I think you could tell from the players’ reaction when Liam Belcher was selected how much he deserves it.
“He's been in the regional game for 10 years. He's changed clubs. He's gone back to university to do an electrician’s degree and then he's managed to work his way into the national squad. So yeah, delighted for Liam.”
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Mae Prif Hyfforddwr dros dro Cymru, Matt Sherratt, wedi dewis ei dîm i wynebu Japan yn y Prawf Cyntaf yn Stadiwm Mikuni World, Kitakyushu ddydd Sadwrn y 5ed o Orffennaf.
Mae pob tocyn ar gyfer y gêm wedi ei werthu a bydd yr ornest yn cael ei dangos yn fyw ar BBC Cymru Wales ac iPlayer – gyda’r darllediad yn dechrau am 5.45 y bore amser Cymru. (Cic gyntaf am 6am).
Y bachwr Dewi Lake fydd yn arwain y tîm – a bydd y blaen-asgellwr ochr agored Josh Macleod yn gwneud ei ymddangosiad cyntaf dros ei wlad ers Cyfres yr Hydref yn 2022.
Alex Mann a’r wythwr Taulupe Faletau fydd yn cadw cwmni iddo’n y rheng ôl.
Nid oedd Sam Costelow a Ben Carter ar gael ar gyfer Pencampwriaeth Chwe Gwlad Guinness 2025 o ganlyniad i anafiadau – ac mae’r maswr a’r ail reng yn ôl yn y pymtheg cychwynnol. Teddy Williams fydd cyd-glo Carter.
Am y tro cyntaf eleni - Kieran Hardy sydd wedi ei ddewis i ddechrau’n safle’r mewnwr.
Yn ystod Cwpan y Byd 2023 y gwisgodd Johnny Williams grys coch Cymru ddiwethaf – ac mae ef yn cael ei gyfle i bartneru Ben Williams yn y canol.
Yn ôl y disgwyl, y bachwr Dewi Lake fydd yn arwain y tîm – gyda Nicky Smith yn dechrau’n safle’r prop pen tynn a Keiron Assiratti’n brop pen rhydd.
Josh Adams a Tom Rogers fydd y ddau asgellwr gyda Blair Murray yn cwblhau’r tri ôl.
Mae Matt Sherratt wedi dewis chwech o flaenwyr a dau olwr ar y fainc.
Os y caiff bachwr Caerdydd, Liam Belcher ei alw oddi ar y fainc – bydd yn ennill ei gap cyntaf dros Gymru. Wedi iddo fethu â chwarae unrhyw ran yn y Chwe Gwlad eleni o ganlyniad i anaf – mae’r prop Archie Griffin wedi ei ddewis ymhlith yr eilyddion. Gareth Thomas yw’r opsiwn i’w alw o’r fainc fel prop pen tynn.
James Ratti, Aaron Wainwright a Tommy Reffell yw’r tri blaenwr arall ymhlith y garfan ar gyfer y Prawf Cyntaf. Rhodri Williams a Joe Roberts yw’r ddau olwr sy’n dechrau ar y fainc.
Wales team v Japan – 1st Test | Tîm Cymru v Japan
15. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 8 caps)
14. Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 9 caps)
13. Johnny Williams (Scarlets – 7 caps)
12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 12 caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 61 caps)
10. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 18 caps)
9. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys | Gweilch – 23 caps)
1. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers | Caerlŷr – 54 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys | Gweilch – 20 caps) – captain | capten
3. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 14 caps)
4. Ben Carter (Dragons | Dreigiau – 12 caps)
5. Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 6 caps)
6. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 5 caps)
7. Josh Macleod (Scarlets – 2 caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 108 caps)
Replacements | Eilyddion
16. Liam Belcher (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – uncapped | heb gap)
17. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys | Gweilch – 40 caps)
18. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby| Caerfaddon – 6 caps)
19. James Ratti (Ospreys | Gweilch – 1 cap)
20. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons | Dreigiau – 57 caps)
21. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 27 caps)
22. Rhodri Williams (Dragons | Dreigiau – 9 caps)
23. Joe Roberts (Scarlets – 5 caps)
