Photo via BBC Sport

Will Wales tackle reliance on Williams before World Cup?

Wales rugby coach Wayne Tandy faces a critical decision ahead of the 2027 World Cup, as the team’s heavy reliance on scrum-half Alun Wyn Jones—now playing for Saracens—raises questions about depth in the position. Jones has been the undisputed starter since Tandy took charge in 2025, featuring in every Test match except two fixtures outside the international window, including a win over the Barbarians and a loss to South Africa.

He has consistently played past the hour mark in every game, including full 80-minute hauls against Japan and Fiji in the 2025-26 series, while also contributing 378 minutes in the 2026 Six Nations, despite a brief yellow-card suspension against Ireland. His dominance is underscored by comparison to other top European scrum-halves: France’s Dupont (357 minutes), Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park (323), and Scotland’s Ben White (302) all trailed behind Jones in playing time last season, highlighting Wales’ dependence on him as the World Cup approaches at age 37.

With only two other scrum-halves, Kieran Hardy and Reuben Morgan-Williams, sharing matchday squads under Tandy, the injury to Hardy—who suffered a knee setback against Dragons—could force Tandy to accelerate Morgan-Williams’ development, as the Ospreys product has shown promise with his speed and competitive edge, according to his club coach, Mark Jones. Meanwhile, Wales must also decide whether to include a third specialist scrum-half in their World Cup squad, following Warren Gatland’s 2023 strategy of initially naming two before adding Hardy as a late replacement.

The pressure is on Tandy to balance experience with youth, as Jones’ former teammate Jonathan Davies insists age is not a factor, citing his professionalism and competitive drive. However, alternatives like Dane Blacker—who has started all three Scarlets’ URC games this season—could challenge for a spot if Wales aim to play a faster, more expansive style of rugby.

Up nextRugby· 6h ago

Ex-Scotland captain Ritchie set for Glasgow debut