rugby

New Wales rugby coach Steve Tandy accepts he cannot avoid the "elephant in the room", with the domestic game in chaos and the threat of a players' strike still a possibility.

Tandy takes charge of the national side for the first time next month amid huge turmoil for Welsh rugby.

The Welsh Rugby Union has announced plans to halve the number of professional men’s sides in Wales from four to two, with a decision imminent on the future structure of the game following a six-week consultation period.

But the Welsh Rugby Players Association have warned the WRU proposals would "drive talent to leave Wales" and national team captain Jac Morgan has indicated he would leave to play club rugby outside Wales if his Ospreys team were one of the sides axed.

Galthie has included 10 uncapped players in the 42-man squad including Olympic rugby sevens gold medallist winger Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Bayonne's in-form back-rower Esteban Capilla and breakthrough Toulouse centre Kalvin Gourgues.