Wales team to play Scotland: Tandy Hands Gallagher Prem Star Debut

Thursday, 19 February 2026 at 09:00

byHarry Tovey

The Wales team to play Scotland at Principality Stadium on Saturday has been announced, with Leicester Tigers’ Gabriel Hamer-Webb set to make his debut.

The winger who left Cardiff Rugby for the Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium side at the start of the 2025/26 season, and will face off against Scotland as Wales hunt for their first Six Nations in almost 36 months.

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That challenge has been made more difficult following the concession of 102 points in their opening two contests against England and France.

With that said, another talking point from the team announcement is that Scarlets’ Sam Costelow, who last played international rugby in Kitakyushu in July last year.

He replaces Dan Edwards, who has been the number one choice at outside-half for the last seven Test matches, which goes back to the triumph in Kobe when Wales ended their 18-Test losing run.

Dragons RFC co-captain Ben Carter has also earned his first-ever Six Nations start as he comes in for Adam Beard, who had a frustrating appearance against ‘Les Bleus’.

Speaking on the selection, head coach Tandy added: “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 to play Scotland:

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)