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The Prem talents hunting Wales breakthroughs

Q: What is this sports story about?

Exeter's Kane James and Bath's Louie Hennessey are aiming to make an impression with Wales in November's Nations Championship.

Q: Who published this story?

This story was published by BBC Sport on October 28, 2026 and curated on Africa Front.

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Trade & AfCFTA, Infrastructure, African Technology

October 28, 2026

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The Prem talents hunting Wales breakthroughs

Published7 hours ago

Established internationals Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Aaron Wainwright have hit the ground running after summer moves to England, but a pair of Prem prospects are looking to make an impression as they come back to Wales.

Exeter back-row forward Kane James and Bath centre Louie Hennessey are currently with their clubs after spending the start of the week in the Wales camp.

The one-cappers are in a 14-strong contingent in Steve Tandy's squad for the Nations Championship who are employed in England.

While Morgan, Lake, Wainwright, Tomos Williams and Nicky Smith moved over the border as seasoned Test players, James and Hennessey have earned international chances as Cardiff boys who have been developed in England.

The pair will return to Wales next week with the aim of winning caps against Japan, New Zealand, Australia and another southern hemisphere opponent.

They also know they have their work cut out against strong competition.

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James is fighting for a spot in Wales' strongest department, with Morgan and Wainwright nailed-on starters against Japan, fitness permitting.

James Botham, Alex Mann, Taine Basham and Taine Plumtree are the other contenders as 21-year-old Chiefs flanker James tries to make a mark.

"It's pretty stacked. There is good competition but a competitive squad is only going to boost us," said James, who faced Argentina in July.

"It's similar at Exeter, we've got one hell of a back-row. Being more involved in the senior squad has helped me improve massively."

Wales' riches mean players need a point of difference if they are to make the squad, let alone the matchday 23.

"I'd like to think that I bring something different with my speed and power," said James. "I just like to get my hands on the ball, use my footwork and pace."

The flanker has featured four times in the Prem so far this season and also made a couple of telling contributions off the bench in Exeter's narrow Champions Cup loss at Toulouse.

The grounding at Sandy Park - where he combines professional rugby with an accounting and finance degree as a part-time student at Exeter University - has allowed him to chase his dream.

James played for England Under-20s and was eligible for New Zealand courtesy of his mother, Audrey, who is from the Pacific island of Niue.

"It's always been my dream and passion to play for Wales," said James, who was born in Pembrokeshire but grew up in Cardiff, going to Corpus Christi High School and playing for St Peter's RFC.

"I grew up watching the likes of Taulupe Faletau and Sam Warburton play in the back row for Wales.

"I was inspired by them, so it was a proud moment to play [against Argentina] and something that I had worked towards for a while."

James would love to earn a chance in one of the three Principality Stadium dates to get a first taste of Cardiff backing.

His debut was made in San Juan, with the selection meaning a long and arduous trip for his father Chris.

"He had a trip from hell, a drive from Cardiff to Heathrow, flew to Barcelona to Rio de Janeiro then to Buenos Aires, then had an hour taxi to the other airport, then flew to San Juan," James explained.

"He had a long journey to see me play, which I was very grateful for."

The James family hope they will soon be toasting a Wales Test bow for Kane's sister Crystal.

The Gwalia Lightning and Ealing Trailfinders prop is currently with Wales in Japan after being a member of the squad that faced Barbarians last summer.

Top tips from Finn Russell

Wales have not truly settled on a midfield partnership under Tandy, who sees Eddie James as primarily an outside centre despite his encouraging displays at 12 for Scarlets.

The versatile Hennessey, who prefers the 13 jersey, is also battling for action with Max Llewellyn, Joe Hawkins and the uncapped Aneurin Owen.

The likelihood is that Hennessey will have to bide his time to add to the first cap he won as a replacement against Ireland in the Six Nations.

But the 22-year-old from Llanishen in Cardiff has experience of climbing the pecking order since coming through Bath's academy.

"I probably didn't realise all of the stuff that I was picking up as a youngster," said Hennessey, who has Ollie Lawrence, Max Ojomoh and Cameron Redpath as midfield rivals at Bath.

"The level that they operate at and what they do on the training field and off it has been great for my development."

Hennessey, who played on the wing for Bath last weekend, has also profited from working at close quarters with Finn Russell, and from being targeted by the Scotland and Lions fly-half.

"It's the speed of thought with Finn," he said. "As a youngster coming through I trained on the other side and defended against him, reacting to stuff and trying to think two steps ahead."

That work on the training field helped Hennessey when he was selected for Bath's Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux-Begles.

"That was the most hostile place that I have played," he said. "The noise for 80 minutes was something that I have never experienced before.

"That game probably showed the level that I can compete at."

Hennessey is Cardiff born, Cardiff bred, but hopes his Bath exploits can help him make the next step with Wales.

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Wales' Prem Rugby contingent

Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol)

Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester)

Max Llewellyn (Gloucester)

Louie Hennessey (Bath)

Tomos Williams (Saracens)

Nicky Smith (Sale)