Scotland braced for stern test as Gatland selects Holmes for Cardiff

Scotland could come up against the “pretty outstanding” Jonah Holmes in Cardiff next month after Wales boss Warren Gatland selected the uncapped Leicester wing in his autumn Test squad.

Stockport-born Holmes, who scored ten tries in 11 games for Leicester last season and qualifies for Wales through a grandparent, is one of two international rookies among a 37-man group.

Ospreys wing Luke Morgan, a renowned sevens specialist, has also been called up by Gatland for November games against Scotland, Australia, Tonga and South Africa.

Holmes, 26, began his professional career as a scrumhalf with Wasps, while he also played for Rosslyn Park, Henley Hawks, London Scottish, London Welsh and Yorkshire Carnegie before arriving at Welford Road.

“He has been on the Welsh exiles list, and his form for Leicester has been pretty outstanding in terms of the number of tries he has scored,” Gatland said. “He was man of the match against Northampton at Twickenham a couple of weeks ago, when he played exceptionally well.”

While Gatland welcomes back eight British and Irish Lions to his squad following Wales’ successful summer tour of Argentina, including skipper Alun Wyn Jones, centre Jonathan Davies and hooker Ken Owens, he is also without a number of injured players. Scarlets flankers Aaron Shingler and James Davies, Bath No 8 Taulupe Faletau, Cardiff Blues back-row forward Josh Navidi and Ospreys centre Scott Williams are among the absentees, together with fly-half Rhys Patchell, who is currently sidelined because of concussion.

Wales’ first Test is against the Scots at the Principality Stadium on 3 November.