What a year it has been for Ellis Mee. 

Plucked from obscurity by the Scarlets in May 2024, the former Nottingham centre found himself playing for Wales in the Six Nations earlier this year.

The 21-year-old started against Ireland in the third round of the tournament and almost crowned his debut at Principality Stadium with a spectacular try, which was later ruled out by the TMO. 

He then played against Scotland and England.

His performances this season for the Scarlets have helped take them into the United Rugby Championship play-offs and he has been a starter in 16 of the 17 games he has played for them in his debut season.

Yet, less than three months after being entrusted with a Wales jersey by then interim head coach Matt Sherratt, he hasn’t made the cut for the same coach’s 33-strong summer tour squad for the two tests to be played in Japan in July.

While Sherratt was the first to admit that the selection of the Ospreys’ uncapped Keelan Giles ahead of Mee was the toughest decision of the lot in picking the squad, it is difficult to fathom. 

Scarlets centre-cum-wing Macs Page joins Giles as one of the six uncapped players.

“Ellis is not injured, but we’ve decided to go with Josh Adams, Tom Rogers and Keelan Giles. That was probably one of the toughest calls,” admitted Sherratt.

“I spoke to Dwayne Peel around some of the rationale around it. I think Ellis has a big future and is going to be a well-capped international, but I just feel we need experience, particularly in the backline, on this tour.

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“I know Keelan isn’t capped, but he came on a tour nine years ago with me to Samoa. He’s been in good form, is a regular starter in the URC, and I feel his time is right.”

Ospreys scrum half Reuben Morgan-Williams and prop Garyn Phillips are among the uncapped players, along with Cardiff captain Liam Belcher and Dragons prop Chris Coleman. 

Belcher’s inclusion means there is no place for Evan Lloyd, who was being groomed for long term stardom in the Welsh front row.

Another shock omission is Ospreys back row man Morgan Morse. 

As one of the best ball-carriers in Wales, even at the tender age of 20, he would surely have benefited from training and potentially playing alongside Taulupe Faletau and Aaron Wainwright.

Instead, Scarlets inspirational skipper Josh Macleod has earned another recall. 

He will be leading the Scarlets into the quarter-finals of the URC against Leinster in Dublin in a few weeks time.

Dafydd Jenkins, Max Llewellyn and Jarrod Evans were not considered due to injury, while locks Adam Beard and Will Rowlands have been given the summer off. 

There are recalls following injury for lock Ben Carter, outside half Sam Costelow and prop Archie Griffin, and returns to international duty for Cam Winnett, Johnny Williams, Alex Mann, Kieran Hardy and James Ratti.

“It was all about continuity. It’s a Lions year and we have two players away with them and there are a couple of other experienced players who are unavailable,” added Sherratt.

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“It’s a short tour and it’s about trying to get players who have played a lot for their regions and who have experience. That was important.

“The development angle should be left to the next guy coming in, in terms of some younger boys he wants to look at. 

“I just think it’s a really good opportunity to lay a foundation.”

Japan are once again coached by Eddie Jones and his side notched the first win over Wales in 2013 when Robin McBryde was in charge of the Welsh team that toured, while the British & Irish Lions were in Australia. 

Wales, with Dan Baker, Dafydd Howells, James King, Rhys Patchell, Emyr Phillips, Andries Pretorius and Cardiff’s Owen Williams all making their debuts, won the first Test 22-18.

In the second Test, Japan triumphed 23-8 to notch their only win to date over a fully fledged Welsh team. 

The two Tests this summer will be played on 5 July at the Mikuni World Stadium in Kitakyushu and on 12 July at Noevir Stadium in Kobe.

“It’s important to me that our basics are better in Japan. We haven’t had a huge amount of time to look at Japan yet, as day-to-day coaching has taken up so much of our time, but I think getting the basics right is key,” said Sherratt.

“We’ll have a good two-and-a-half weeks in camp. There’ll be some new voices in camp, particularly (assistant coach) Gethin (Jenkins) and (assistant coach) Danny Wilson, and allowing them to get their stuff across will be important.

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“When I look at the squad and staff, I’m genuinely excited to spend some time with them. 

“I’ll just do my best and I think having a bit more time and knowing the coaches will help.

“Speaking to the players, there’s a real desire to go to Japan and prove a point. We’ll do our best to go there, lay a foundation and hopefully take that losing record away as well.

“I wouldn’t focus on the record with the players because the tour has got to feel fresh.

“They’ve got to enjoy coming into camp and how we’re trying to play.

“If we do those things, we’ll have a chance of winning a game.”

 

WALES SQUAD FOR JAPAN TEST SERIES

Forwards (19)

Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 14 caps)
Liam Belcher (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – uncapped / heb gap)
Ben Carter (Dragons / Dreigiau – 12 caps)
Chris Coleman (Dragons / Dreigiau – uncapped / heb gap
Elliot Dee (Dragons / Dreigiau – 56 caps)
Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 108 caps)
Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby / Caerfaddon – 6 caps)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys / Gweilch 20 caps) captain / capten
Josh Macleod (Scarlets – 2 caps)
Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 5 caps)
Garyn Phillips (Ospreys / Gweilch – uncapped / heb gap)
Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 7 caps)
James Ratti (Ospreys / Gweilch – 1 cap)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 27 caps)
Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 54 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys / Gweilch – 40 caps)
Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – 3 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons / Dreigiau – 57 caps)
Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 6 caps)


Backs (14)

Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 61 caps)
Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 18 caps)
Dan Edwards (Ospreys / Gweilch – 2 caps)
Keelan Giles (Ospreys / Gweilch – uncapped / heb gap)
Kieran Hardy (Ospreys / Gweilch – 23 caps)
Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys / Gweilch – uncapped / heb gap)
Blair Murray (Scarlets – 8 caps)
Macs Page (Scarlets – uncapped / heb gap)
Joe Roberts (Scarlets – 5 caps)
Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 9 caps)
Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 12 caps)
Johnny Williams (Scarlets – 7 caps)
Rhodri Williams (Dragons / Dreigiau – 9 caps)
Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 9 caps)


WALES MEN’S FIXTURES – JULY 2025
Kick off times and broadcast details to be confirmed

Saturday 5 July: Japan v Wales – 1st Test
Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu

Saturday 12 July: Japan v Wales – 2nd Test
Noevir Stadium, Kobe