Cardiff duo Mason Grady and Evan Lloyd have made the cut in the 35-man Wales squad for the Autumn Nations Series.

The Vale pair are among seven Cardiff players that will go into camp, ahead of what could be a critical month for head coach Warren Gatland.

Penarth-born hooker Lloyd, who made his Wales debut against France in the Six Nations, is among the forwards, while former Barry centre Grady is in the backs, having scored his first try for Wales in the wooden spoon defeat to Italy.

Two uncapped players feature in the squad - namely Scarlets wing Blair Murray and Gloucester second row Freddie Thomas, who qualify through their mother and grandparents respectively.

Dewi Lake retains the captaincy following the summer test series defeat to Australia, while there's a surprise recall for Dragons scrum half Rhodri Williams, who won his last Wales cap against Scotland in the 2014 Six Nations, scoring his first and so far only international try.

Adam Beard, Ryan Elias, Jac Morgan, Will Rowlands, Henry Thomas and Tomos Williams also return following injury or rest, alongside Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn, Tom Rogers and Nicky Smith.

Wales kick off their November internationals against Fiji on Sunday 10th November, followed seven days later by Australia and world champions South Africa on Saturday 23rd November in a replay of the fixture that opened the Principality Stadium 25 years ago.

Gatland said: “We feel this is an exciting squad with some experience coming back to join the younger players. We know they are going to work incredibly hard as a group this November."

“We have three very different opposition in Fiji, Australia and South Africa, but are looking forward to the challenges that each will pose."

“The autumn campaign is always special because we have back-to-back matches at home each weekend and there is no better place to go and play than Principality Stadium with all the passion and energy of our incredible fans.”

Regarding Lake retaining the captaincy, the head coach added: “I thought Dewi did a really good job with the captaincy over the summer, so we’ve decided for him to continue in the role this autumn.”

Wales squad for 2024 Autumn Nations Series
Forwards: Nicky Smith (Leicester), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Evan Lloyd (Cardiff), Henry Thomas (Scarlets), Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff), Archie Griffin (Bath), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter), Ben Carter (Dragons), Will Rowlands (Racing 92), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), James Botham (Cardiff), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Tommy Reffell (Leicester), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
Backs: Tomos Williams (Gloucester), Rhodri Williams (Dragons), Ellis Bevan (Cardiff), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Max Llewellyn (Gloucester), Eddie James (Scarlets), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Mason Grady (Cardiff), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Josh Hathaway (Gloucester), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Cameron Winnett (Cardiff)