ALL three Dragons players will feature in Wales’ Six Nations opener against France in Paris with Aaron Wainwright starting at number eight.

An injury to Taulupe Faletau means that Wainwright stays in the position where he starred in the horrendous 2024 rather than shifting to blindside flanker.

The Dragons talisman is joined in the back row by captain Jac Morgan and James Botham with Tommy Reffell among the replacements.

Wainwright starts while hooker Elliot Dee and scrum-half Rhodri Williams are on the bench for the fixture at the Stade de France.

Dee, who missed the summer tour to Australia and autumn internationals with an ankle injury, will be disappointed to miss out to Evan Lloyd for the 2 jersey but he is a safe pair of hands as a replacement.

Williams will hope to come off the bench to win his sixth cap and play in an away Test for the first time.

The 31-year-old returned to the international stage in the autumn after a 10-year absence and backs up Tomos Williams in Paris.

Former England prop Henry Thomas will make his first Wales start.

The ex-Sale and Bath tighthead, who also played French club rugby for Castres and Montpellier, has won four caps as a replacement since switching allegiance to Wales in 2023.

Thomas, whose father is from Swansea, was able to make the move under World Rugby regulations because his last England appearance had been more than three years earlier.

Full-back Liam Williams and wing Josh Adams – with 151 caps between them – also feature, while Saracens centre Nick Tompkins is recalled, partnering Owen Watkin in midfield.

Cardiff’s Ben Thomas fills the fly-half role, uncapped Ospreys number 10 Dan Edwards is on the bench and Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins makes a first Wales appearance for almost 11 months after undergoing knee and shoulder operations.

WALES

15. Liam Williams (Saracens – 92 caps)
14. Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 5 caps)
13. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 38 caps)
12. Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 42 caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 59 caps)
10. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 7 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 59 caps)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 35 caps)
2. Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby – 5 caps)
3. Henry Thomas (Scarlets – 4 caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 36 caps)
5. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 19 caps)
6. James Botham (Cardiff Rugby – 16 caps)
7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 18 caps) – captain
8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 52 caps)
Replacements
16. Elliot Dee (Dragons – 51 caps)
17. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 49 caps)
18. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 10 caps)
19. Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby – 1 cap)
20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 23 caps)
21. Rhodri Williams (Dragons – 5 caps)
22. Dan Edwards (Ospreys – uncapped)
23. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 3 caps)