Taulupe Faletau is out of the autumn internationals and has been replaced by a former Osprey
10:36, 27 Oct 2025
Olly Cracknell of Leicester Tigers (Image: David Rogers/Getty Images)
Leicester Tigers back rower Olly Cracknell has been called into the Wales squad after Taulupe Faletau was released in a blow to new coach Steve Tandy.
Faletau suffered a knee injury early in Cardiff’s match against Edinburgh on Saturday night and has left the squad with immediate effect.
Cracknell, 31, has long had aspirations to play for Wales at senior level. He has represented them at under-20s and was called up to the senior squad in 2017 without making an appearance. He has further ties to Wales having played for Ospreys for six years, making 177 appearances.
Head coach Tandy said: “It’s obviously hugely disappointing to lose Toby to injury as he’s a world-class player. But Olly’s been playing really well for Leicester and we’re excited to add him to the squad.”
Cracknell was coached by Tandy during his time in charge of the Ospreys and is a huge physical presence who has impressed in the English Premiership in recent years.
He was born and raised in Leeds but qualifies for Wales through his Welsh grandfather, who was from Llanelli. He first registered as a Welsh exile when he was 16 years-old.
Faletau and fellow Cardiff back rower Alex Mann, who suffered a thigh injury in the same game, were both assessed by medics on Monday morning as the Wales squad met up for the first time under Tandy.
The loss of the veteran number eight opens up the selection debate in an area of the team where Wales have a certain amount of strength. Dragons star Aaron Wainwright will be favourite to wear the jersey against Argentina in the first autumn fixture on November 9, although he could yet be picked at six.
The like of Taine Plumtree, Cracknell, Mann, Morgan Morse and Freddie Thomas are the other options in the back row.
Wales’ autumn squad
Forwards: Keiron Assiratti, Adam Beard, Liam Belcher, Rhys Carre, Ben Carter, Brodie Coghlan*, Christian Coleman, Olly Cracknell*, Rhys Davies, James Fender*, Archie Griffin, Dafydd Jenkins, Dewi Lake, Alex Mann, Jac Morgan (c), Morgan Morse*, Taine Plumtree, Nicky Smith, Danny Southworth*, Gareth Thomas, Freddie Thomas, Aaron Wainwright.
Backs: Josh Adams, Jacob Beetham, Rio Dyer, Dan Edwards, Jarrod Evans, Callum Sheedy, Kieran Hardy, Joe Hawkins, Louie Hennessey*, Max Llewellyn, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Blair Murray, Louis Rees-Zammit, Tom Rogers, Ben Thomas, Nick Tompkins, Tomos Williams.
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