Former rugby league star Regan Grace is slated to make his eagerly awaited union debut for Wales in their final match of the Australian tour. The 27-year-old, who recently transitioned from league to union, will grace the field against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Friday.
Despite having only participated in two senior union matches for his club Bath, Grace has been granted the opportunity to display his skills on the wing for Warren Gatland’s squad. The match against the Queensland Reds is an uncapped friendly fixture, providing Grace with the perfect opportunity to demonstrate his abilities in his new code.
With an impressive tally of 89 tries for St Helens during his league career, Grace is well acquainted with the demands of top-level rugby. Following his transition to union in 2022, he unfortunately sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon prior to joining French Top 14 club Racing 92, temporarily halting his career shift.
After undergoing rehabilitation for his injury, Grace signed with Bath and recently partook in friendlies against Leinster and Gloucester, signifying his return to full fitness. Grace’s selection for the Wales training squad came as a surprise, with the talented winger earning his spot less than a week before the team’s departure to Sydney.
Alongside Grace, several other players are poised to make their Wales debut, including loose-head prop Kemsley Mathias, hooker Evan Lloyd, No 8 Mackenzie Martin, and centre Eddie James. The squad, led by Cory Hill, differs notably from the team that faced Australia in their previous Test, with only five players from the starting XV making the cut.
According to head coach Gatland, the objective of this match is to provide as many players as possible with the opportunity to contribute, whether as starters or substitutes. Given Wales’ aim to break their nine-game losing streak, the match against the Queensland Reds is pivotal for the team’s confidence and development in preparation for future fixtures.
The line-up for Wales comprises Cameron Winnett, Rio Dyer, Nick Tompkins, Eddie James, Regan Grace, Sam Costelow, and Gareth Davies in the backline. The forward pack consists of Kemsley Mathias, Evan Lloyd, Archie Griffin, Matthew Screech, Cory Hill, Christ Tshiunza, Taine Plumtree, and Mackenzie Martin.
The substitutes for the match include Efan Daniel, Corey Domachowski, Harri O’Connor, Dafydd Jenkins, Tommy Reffell, Kieran Hardy, Ben Thomas, and Mason Grady.
Rugby enthusiasts can witness all the action live on Sky Sports Action, with the kick-off scheduled for 10:55am. The match will also be available for streaming on NOW, providing viewers with the opportunity to witness Regan Grace’s highly anticipated union debut for Wales.