Wales star released from squad 48 hours before Australia game as new face called in

Wales have been dealt a severe blow with scrum-half Tomos Williams ruled out for the remainder of the Autumn Nations Series. Williams, who has arguably been the best number nine in the English Premiership after joining Gloucester, has been released from the squad after sustaining a shoulder injury in the defeat to Fiji last weekend. Ospreys scrum-half Kieran Hardy has been called up as Williams' replacement having missed out on selection for the initial squad.

The 23-times capped Hardy has been a regular member of the national squad since making his debut in 2020 but missed much of the first block of the United Rugby Championship season due to injury. Cardiff's Ellis Bevan will wear the number nine shirt against Australia on Sunday, with the Dragons' Rhodri Williams on the replacements bench. Wales have lost 10 Test matches in a row and to lose a player to Williams' quality will come as a hammer blow.



The 29-year-old is widely considered to be a front-runner to tour Australia with the British & Irish Lions in the summer and is a player with genuine x-factor..