Wales team for Scotland clash at Principality Stadium

Head coach Steve Tandy has named the Wales team to play Scotland in the third round of the 2026 Guinness Six Nations at Principality Stadium on Saturday 21 February (kick-off 4.40pm, live on BBC1 and S4C).

There are four changes to the starting XV for our second home match of the 2026 Championship.

Gabriel Hamer-Webb starts on the wing and will become the 1,221st Wales men’s international on Saturday.

Ben Carter is named alongside Dafydd Jenkins in the second row for his first Six Nations start.

Sam Costelow is selected at fly-half to make his first appearance for Wales this Championship.

In the back row, Taine Plumtree is at blindside flanker for his first Six Nations start. Alex Mann continues at openside flanker and Aaron Wainwright moves to no. 8.

Among the replacements Freddie Thomas, James Botham and Blair Murray are all in line to make their first appearances for Wales this campaign.

Tandy said: “There are some changes to the team this week. We feel this is the best team to take on Scotland and with a six-day turnaround you want some freshness as well going into the game.

“It’s our third game of the championship. We want to build on our performance. We want to see more consistent moments and back-to-back moments, which we feel if we get we’ll be closer to getting the outcome we want from games.”

On Gabriel Hamer-Webb making his debut Tandy added: “Gabe has really impressed me in the way he’s attacked training, the way he’s learnt, the way he’s adapted and the way he’s just settled into the squad. His training efforts have been outstanding.

“Then when you dig into his background at Leicester, even when he wasn’t in the team, everyone said he was an amazing team player. He also kept pushing, he never gave up and then when he had his Leicester opportunity he took it with two hands and now this opportunity has come up and it’s thoroughly deserved.”

Wales team v Scotland – Guinness Six Nations

15. Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears – 37 caps)
14. Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester Tigers – uncapped)
13. Eddie James (Scarlets – 6 caps)
12. Joe Hawkins (Scarlets – 8 caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 67 caps)
10. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 19 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 69 caps)
1. Rhys Carre (Saracens – 25 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 28 caps) captain
3. Tomas Francis (Provence Rugby – 79 caps)
4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs  – 28 caps)
5. Ben Carter (Dragons – 16 caps)
6. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 13 caps)
7. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – 13 caps)
8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons  – 64 caps)

Replacements

16. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 45 caps)
17. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 60 caps)
18. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby – 13 caps)
19. Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby – 7 caps)
20. James Botham (Cardiff Rugby – 18 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys – 30 caps)
22. Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 15 caps)
23. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 14 caps)