Dewi Lake

Wales name team to play France at Principality Stadium | Cymru’n enwi’r tîm i wynebu Ffrainc yn Stadiwm Principality

Head coach Steve Tandy has named the Wales team to play France in the second round of the 2026 Guinness Six Nations at Principality Stadium on Sunday 15 February (kick-off 3.10pm, live on BBC1 and S4C).

There are four personnel and two positional changes to the starting XV for the first home match of the 2026 Championship.

Loosehead prop Rhys Carre and tighthead prop Tomas Francis, who made his first Wales appearance since RWC2023 last weekend, are selected alongside captain Dewi Lake in the front row.

Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard continue in the second row.

In the back row, Olly Craknell is selected at No. 8 for his Guinness Six Nations debut. Aaron Wainwright moves to blindside flanker and Alex Mann moves to openside flanker.

Tomos Wiliams and Dan Edwards continue at scrum-half and fly-half respectively.

Joe Hawkins, named at inside centre alongside club teammate Eddie James at outside centre, will make his first appearance of this Championship.

Louis Rees-Zammit is at fullback with Josh Adams and Ellis Mee on the wings.

There are five forwards and three backs among the replacements. Ryan Elias is in line to make his first appearance for Wales since the 2024 Autumn Nations Series. Loosehead prop Nicky Smith and tighthead prop Archie Griffin join Elias as front row cover for Wales.

Ben Carter and Taine Plumtree are the other forward replacements.

Jarrod Evans is included among the replacement backs along with Mason Grady and Kieran Hardy.

Tandy said: “There are a few changes for this week. A lot of it is based on who we are playing and then Olly Cracknell has done a full training week this week and also played really well in the autumn.

“We were bitterly disappointed with the performance last week. We've addressed it in meetings. The boys were open and honest around the fact that we didn't put ourselves on the game. We felt we played into England's hands a little bit and obviously the discipline was hugely disappointing. It's a massive lesson for us. It's something we need to correct and put more of our game out on the field on Sunday.”

On this being Wales’ first home game of the Six Nations Tandy added:  "We’re excited to get back to Principality Stadium. We had four games in the autumn and the crowd was incredible. I know I've spoken a lot about the New Zealand game - the crowd, the energy it brought and the response from players. The supporters mean a huge amount to us and they do inspire the players. Our aim on the weekend is to inspire the fans too.”

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Mae Prif Hyfforddwr Cymru, Steve Tandy, wedi enwi’r tîm i wynebu Ffrainc yn Ail Rownd o gemau Pencampwriaeth Chwe Gwlad Guinness 2026 yn Stadiwm Principality, ddydd Sul 15 Chwefror (3.10pm, yn fyw ar S4C a BBC1).

Mae pedwar newid o safbwynt chwaraewyr a dau newid safle ychwanegol i’r pymtheg ddechreuodd yng ngêm gyntaf y gystadleuaeth y penwythnos diwethaf.

Mae’r prop pen rhydd Rhys Carre a’r prop pen tynn Tomas Francis, wedi’u dewis ar y naill ysgwydd a’r llall i’r capten Dewi Lake yn y rheng flaen. Wrth gamu o’r fainc y penwythnos diwethaf, fe wnaeth Francis ei ymddangosiad cyntaf dros Gymru ers Cwpan y Byd 2023.

Bydd Dafydd Jenkins ac Adam Beard yn parhau yn yr ail reng.

Yn y rheng ôl, mae Olly Cracknell wedi’i ddewis yn wythwr ar gyfer ei ymddangosiad cyntaf erioed ym Mhencampwriaeth Chwe Gwlad Guinness. Mae Aaron Wainwright yn symud o safle’r wythwr i fod yn flaen-asgellwr ochr dywyll, tra bo Alex Mann yn symud o’r safle hwnnw i chwarae fel blaen-asgellwr ochr agored.

Mae Tomos Williams a Dan Edwards wedi eu dewis i barhau eu partneriaeth fel haneri.

Bydd Joe Hawkins yn gwneud ei ymddangosiad cyntaf yn y Bencampwriaeth eleni a’i gyd-ganolwr gyda’r Scarlets, Eddie Jmaes, fydd yn cadw cwmni iddo yng nhanol y cae.

Mae Steve Tandy wedi cadw’r ffydd gyda’r tri ôl, sef y cefnwr Louis Rees-Zammit a’r asgellwyr Josh Adams ac Ellis Mee .

Mae pum blaenwr a thri o olwyr wedi eu dewis ar y fainc. Mae Ryan Elias ar fin gwneud ei ymddangosiad cyntaf dros Gymru ers Cyfres yr Hydref yn 2024. Y prop pen rhydd Nicky Smith a’r prop pen tynn Archie Griffin sy’n cynnig gweddill yr opsiynau o safbwynt eilyddion y rheng flaen.

Ben Carter a Taine Plumtree yw’r blaenwyr eraill fydd yn dechrau ar y fainc.

Mae Jarrod Evans wedi’i gynnwys ymhlith yr olwyr wrth gefn ynghyd â Mason Grady a Kieran Hardy.

Dywedodd Steve Tandy: “Mae ambell newid yr wythnos hon. Mae llawer o’r newidiadau hynny’n seiliedig ar y ffaith ein bod yn chwarae Ffrainc yn benodol. Mae Olly Cracknell wedi cael wythnos lawn o ymarfer ac fe chwaraeodd yn dda iawn yn yr Hydref hefyd.

“Roedden ni’n hynod siomedig gyda’r perfformiad yr wythnos ddiwethaf. Ry’n ni wedi trafod hynny ac wedi delio gydag ef yn ein ffordd ein hunain.

“Roedd y bechgyn yn agored ac yn onest am y ffaith na wnaethon ni fynnu ein lle yn y gêm y penwythnos diwethaf.

“Fe chwaraeon ni i ddwylo Lloegr rhyw ychydig, ac yn amlwg roedd ein diffyg disgyblaeth yn siomedig iawn.

“Roedd honno’n wers galed ond yn wers bwysig i ni ei dysgu. Mae’n rhaid i ni wella’r agwedd honno o’n chwarae, fydd wedyn yn ein galluogi i osod mwy o’n stamp ein hunain ar y gêm ddydd Sul.”

Wrth sôn am y ffaith y bydd Cymru’n chwarae eu gêm gartref gyntaf yn y Chwe Gwlad eleni, ychwanegodd Tandy: “Ry’n ni’n gyffrous i fod yn ôl yn Stadiwm Principality. Fe gawson ni bedair gêm yno’n yr Hydref ac roedd y dorf yn anhygoel. Dwi’n gwybod fy mod i wedi sôn llawer am yr egni roddodd y dorf i’r bechgyn bryd hynny, yn enwedig yn erbyn Seland Newydd ond mae’r cefnogwyr yn golygu cymaint i ni fel carfan a’n nod ni’r penwythnos yma yw eu hysbrydoli gyda’n perfformiad.”


Wales team v France– Guinness Six Nations

15. Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears | Bryste – 36 caps)
14. Ellis Mee (Scarlets – 5 caps)
13. Eddie James (Scarlets – 5 caps)
12. Joe Hawkins (Scarlets – 7 caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 66 caps)
10. Dan Edwards (Ospreys | Gweilch – 8 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby | Caerloyw – 68 caps)
1. Rhys Carre (Saracens | Saraseniaid – 24 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys | Gweilch – 27 caps) captain | capten
3. Tomas Francis (Provence Rugby – 78 caps)
4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs | Caerwysg – 27 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Montpellier – 62 caps)
6. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons | Dreigiau – 63 caps)
7. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 12 caps)
8. Olly Cracknell (Leicester Tigers | Caerlŷr – 2 caps)

Replacements | Eilyddion

16. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 44 caps)
17. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers | Caerlŷr – 59 caps)
18. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby | Caerfaddon – 12 caps)
19. Ben Carter (Dragons / Dreigiau – 15 caps)
20. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 12 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys | Gweilch – 29 caps)
22. Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 14 caps)
23. Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 16 caps)


WALES 2026 GUINNESS SIX NATIONS FIXTURES

·        Saturday 7 February: England 48 v 7 Wales, Allianz Stadium Twickenham

·        Sunday 15 February: Wales v France, Principality Stadium Cardiff – KO 15:10. Live on BBC and S4C.

·        Saturday 21 February: Wales v Scotland, Principality Stadium Cardiff – KO 16:40. Live on BBC and S4C.

·        Friday 6 March: Ireland v Wales, Aviva Stadium Dublin – KO 20:10. Live on ITV and S4C.

·        Saturday 14 March: Wales v Italy, Principality Stadium Cardiff – KO 16:40. Live on BBC and S4C.