Three Welsh back-rowers make strong start for Leicester

Three Welsh back-row forwards, Aaron Wainwright, Olly Cracknell and Tommy Reffell, have become key players for Leicester Tigers in the Premiership, England's top rugby union league, this season. They had never played together before, but have started all three of Leicester's league matches: wins over Newcastle and Gloucester and a narrow defeat to Saracens. Their form matters for Wales too, as head coach Steve Tandy is about to name his squad for the Nations Championship.

Roles in the team

Wainwright and Reffell have played as flankers, with Cracknell at number eight. Wainwright and Cracknell supply ball-carrying and defensive power, while Reffell is the specialist at winning the ball at the breakdown. "They know when to carry," Reffell said of his team-mates.

Wainwright after almost a decade at Dragons

Wainwright is the newest arrival. He has won 70 caps for Wales, a Grand Slam, two Six Nations titles and played at two World Cups. After almost ten years at Dragons, he joined a growing group of top Welsh players moving to England. On his debut he set up Wales wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb for a try against Saracens. Hamer-Webb said: "He moves like a back and hits like a forward."

Leicester begin their Champions Cup campaign away at Pau on Sunday, a competition Wainwright has never played in.

Fight for Wales places

Tandy will announce his Nations Championship squad on 20 October. Wainwright and Gloucester flanker Jac Morgan are regarded as certainties. Reffell and Cracknell are playing well enough to be considered, but competition is strong, and both have been left out of Wales squads this year. Cracknell, born in Leeds, made his debut aged 31 in November 2025, eight years after first being named in a Wales squad. Reffell, 27, came through the Leicester academy and captained the club to last season's Prem Cup final win over Exeter.