6ft 7in giant tipped to make Gatland's squad by Wales international team-mate

-Credit: (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
-Credit: (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)


Former Wales wing Alex Cuthbert has tipped Ospreys lock James Fender to make Warren Gatland's Wales squad this season.

Cuthbert, who left the Ospreys this summer, has called his former team-mate one of the players to watch out for ahead of the new season.

The 23-year-old second-row was enjoying an impressive breakthrough campaign with the Ospreys last year, starting eight matches before injury ended his season prematurely in January. He's now working back from operations on both shoulders, with the hope being that he could be back for the Ospreys before the end of the first block of United Rugby Championship fixtures.

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Speaking about the Ospreys' new signings this season on the Scrum V podcast, Cuthbert pointed out the added depth in the second-row to cover any potential Wales call-ups - including Fender in that group of possible Test players.

“I think they’ve signed quite well in terms of positions," he said. "They’re lucky they have a pack that is up there to challenge most teams in the league.

"(Will) Greatbanks is cover for Adam Beard, Rhys Davies and James Fender, who will be in the Wales fold quite a bit."

When pressed on whether he thinks Fender will make the step-up to Test rugby this year, the Lions wing added: "I think he’ll be a long shot to making it, he’s one of my guys to look out for this season."

Fender is understood to already be on Wales' radar. Earlier this year, when Wales' staff went around the four professional sides to do some testing before the Six Nations, Fender was one of the players they looked at.

The 6ft 7in lock is seen as a promising prospect in the game. The Ospreys have managed to tie him down for two more years, with a deal being signed last season.

That proved to be a shrewd move, given there were French and English clubs also understood to have tabled offers. Even English heavyweights Saracens made enquiries about the young lock.

His younger brother Luke is also one for the future - having helped Swansea Schools life the prestigious Dewar Shield last year.