The Strangest Wales Selection That Went Unnoticed
WillGriff John makes a surprising return to the Wales squad after years of setbacks and limited playtime
WillGriff John, Wales, Six Nations, Scarlets, Sale
Cardiff: So, WillGriff John is back in the Wales squad, and it’s a bit of a shocker. Remember him? He was supposed to debut against Scotland back in 2020, but then the pandemic hit. Talk about bad luck!
For a while, he was known for being a powerhouse in the gym at Scarlets. He even called himself “genetically gifted.” But after leaving the Scarlets in 2023, he kind of faded from the scene.
Now, out of nowhere, he’s in the Six Nations squad. It’s wild because he’s barely played this season, just 180 minutes for Sale. But with injuries piling up for Wales, they had to make some tough choices.
Gatland, the coach, admitted they’re in a tight spot with tightheads. With Archie Griffin out and Leon Brown retiring, they’re scraping the barrel a bit. John, along with a couple of others, has only 16 caps between them. Not exactly ideal, right?
Gatland said, “WillGriff John has been on the bench and he has not had a lot of game-time.” It’s clear they’re feeling the pressure. John hasn’t played Test rugby in nearly four years, so this is a big deal for him.
After his near-debut against Scotland, he was out of the squad when rugby resumed. He got called up for injury cover in 2021 but missed out on more chances. Finally, he got his first caps in 2021 against South Africa and Fiji, but then concussion sidelined him again.
His time at Scarlets didn’t help his international hopes much. He thought his Wales career was over after leaving, especially with the 25-cap rule hanging over him. But since he wasn’t offered a contract in Wales, he’s not bound by that rule anymore.
After a brief stint with Racing 92 and some games for Montauban, he returned to Sale and has been getting some game time again. This season, he’s started just once, but it’s enough to get him back in the mix.