Tshiunza gets Wales senior call-up

By Mark Stevens
13/10/21

Exeter Chiefs youngster Christ Tshiunza has today been named in Wales' 38-man squad for the forthcoming Autumn Nations Series 2021 campaign.

Fresh from featuring for Wales in the Six Nations Championship this summer and making his full Premiership debut for the Chiefs in the opening weeks of the new season, the 19-year-old is to be given his first taste of life within Wayne Pivac's senior squad.

Tshiunza, who made his Premiership debut in Exeter's opening game of the season at Leicester Tigers, has featured in all four of the club's top-flight fixtures, amassing a combined total of 61 minutes so far.

He is one of two non-capped players to have been selected by Pivac, whose side will face the top three ranked teams in the world in New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in this year’s series.

In addition to Australia, the reigning Six Nations champions will face a second of their 2023 Rugby World Cup opponents, Fiji, during the campaign, as Pivac continues his preparations for the global tournament.

Head Coach Pivac calls on the experience of eight 2021 British & Irish Lions in Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Beard, Gareth Davies, Dan Biggar, Louis Rees-Zammit and Liam Williams, whilst Scarlets’ WillGriff John and Tshiunza are included for the first time.

Former Chief, Tomas Francis, is also named by Pivac for the first time since his move to the Ospreys.

“We understand that the opening game against the All Blacks is outside of the international window but I believe that we all need this game, after what has been a particularly difficult time for everyone because of the global pandemic,” said Pivac. “It will be fantastic to play in front of a capacity crowd once again, with a number of these players getting to experience that for the first time.

“This has been one of the most difficult selections I’ve had to make with less rugby than would have normally taken place ahead of a campaign in addition to injuries and player unavailability. When you look at selection you want to select in-form players but it’s fair to say that a number of players haven’t hit their top form. We have looked at past performances at this level, including a very successful Six Nations campaign, and we’ve cross-credit some of that information into current form if you like.

“Injuries in certain positions, particularly at openside, have forced us to look a little bit deeper than we would normally but what it does mean is that more players have an opportunity to be exposed to this level of rugby. This can only be a good thing as we continue our preparations for the 2023 World Cup.”

WALES SQUAD FOR THE AUTUMN NATIONS SERIES 2021

FORWARDS (21);

Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (35 caps)
Rhodri Jones (Ospreys) (21 caps)
Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby) (13 caps)
Ken Owens (Scarlets) (82 caps)
Elliot Dee (Dragons) (40 caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets) (19 caps)
Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby) (31 caps)
WillGriff John (Scarlets) (Uncapped)
Tomas Francis (Ospreys) (57 caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (148 caps)
Adam Beard (Ospreys) (25 caps)
Will Rowlands (Dragons) (10 caps)
Ben Carter (Dragons) (3 caps)
Seb Davies (Cardiff Rugby) (9 caps)
Christ Tshiunza* (Exeter Chiefs) (Uncapped)
Ross Moriarty (Dragons) (48 caps)
Thomas Young* (Wasps) (3 caps)
Taine Basham (Dragons) (3 caps)
Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Rugby) (11 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) 31 caps)
Taulupe Faletau* (Bath Rugby) (86 caps)

BACKS (17);

Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby) (25 caps)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (62 caps)
Kieran Hardy (Scarlets) (7 caps)
Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys) (27 caps)
Rhys Priestland (Cardiff Rugby) (50 caps)
Dan Biggar* (Northampton Saints) (92 caps)
Callum Sheedy* (Bristol Bears) (12 caps)
Johnny Williams (Scarlets) (3 caps)
Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (91 caps)
Nick Tompkins* (Saracens) (13 caps)
Uilisi Halaholo (Cardiff Rugby) (7 caps)
Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby) (1 cap)
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby) (32 caps)
Owen Lane (Cardiff Rugby) (4 caps)
Louis Rees-Zammit* (Gloucester Rugby) (9 caps)
Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets) (5 caps)
Liam Williams (Scarlets) (71 caps)

*Unavailable for selection for New Zealand

Wales’ 2021 Autumn Series fixtures

Wales v New Zealand | Principality Stadium | Saturday 30th October 2021 | KO – 17:15

Wales v South Africa | Principality Stadium | Saturday 6th November 2021 | KO – 17:30

Wales v Fiji | Principality Stadium | Sunday 14th November 2021 | KO – 15:15

Wales v Australia | Principality Stadium | Saturday 20th November 2021 | KO – 17:30