Wales player ratings vs Fiji: Nations Championship

Saturday, 04 July 2026 at 16:13

fiji v wales 2026 nations championship 2

byHarry Tovey

Wales player ratings vs Fiji as Steve Tandy's men started their Nations Championship campaign with a win in Cardiff.

A brace from Player of the Match Jac Morgan was accompanied by Rhys Carré, Josh Adams, Ryan Elias, and Eddie James, who all also scored as Wales claimed the spoils 39-24 at the Cardiff City Stadium.

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Scroll down for Fiji player ratings vs Wales.

Fiji 24-39 Wales

Fiji
Tries: Sowakula (2'), Canakaivata (49'), Ravutaumada (53')
Conversions: Armstrong-Ravula (3', 50', 54')
Penalties: Armstrong-Ravula (40')

Wales
Tries: J Morgan (10', 28'), Carre (44'), Adams (45'), Elias (66'), James (80')
Conversions: D Edwards (44'), Costelow (67', 80')
Penalties: D Edwards (52')

Wales player ratings vs Fiji:

15. Blair Murray — 6

The 24-year-old benefited from last week’s outing against the Barbarians, where again he put in a performance reminiscent of last year’s Six Nations campaign. He was not getting tested in the air, with the hosts opting to show off their attacking flair with the ball in hand, but did pressurise Selestino Ravutaumada into a mistake near the whitewash.

When he was challenged aerially, he regathered and put his side on the front foot early into the second half. Murray back to his best?

14. Louis Rees-Zammit — 5

With his experiment of being an international fullback looking like it’s over, the Bristol Bears player moved back to being a ‘world-class’ winger. His return didn’t play out the way he would have wanted to. He had a warm welcome back to the outside after he was driven out of touch by both Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula and Frank Lomani.

Compared to his counterparts in the backline, Rees-Zammit had a quieter display and was feeling the fury of Fiji’s attack when he went in at the break. Needs to be a lot better for Wales for the upcoming Tests against Argentina and South Africa in the coming weeks.

fiji v wales 2026 nations championship 3

CARDIFF, WALES - JULY 04: Louis Rees-Zammit of Wales warms up prior to the 2026 Nations Championship match between Fiji and Wales at Cardiff City Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Alex Livesey - Nations Championship/Nations Championship via Getty Images)

13. Eddie James — 7

Against the Baa-Baas in the uncapped fixture, James did not reach the heights of the past Six Nations, but this time around he was one of Wales’ standouts. Before the 30-minute mark, he won his side a penalty just outside Fiji’s 22, and Wales scored shortly afterwards. He topped his afternoon off with a late score.

12. Joe Hawkins — 8

Hawkins is continuing to establish himself as Wales’ first choice inside centre, but after Wales were back on the front foot, he made a questionable decision to kick in behind, which Fiji regathered and relieved pressure on their defence. Apart from that, he stood out in Wales’ defence, with 12 tackles in the first-half alone.

This centre pairing with James is starting to look like the real deal.

11. Josh Adams — 7.5

You do feel that, with the Cardiff Rugby player, he is in fact nearing the end of his international career, but after being rested last weekend, he returned to the Wales fold.

Out of the back-three, he was Wales’ top performer, and in a way made a statement that he can still compete at international level after many naysayers questioning him. That was further evident by claiming his side’s fourth after chasing a kick in behind, which caught Selestino Ravutaumada off guard with a sneaky touchdown.

10. Dan Edwards — 7

After claiming a brace to start his summer campaign on the front foot, the 23-year-old seems to be maturing nicely into being Wales’ talisman at outside-half. He had to deal with a number of big hits from Josua Tuisova and Semi Radradra, but that didn’t hinder his performance.

Despite forgetting his kicking boots when it came to adding the extras in the first-half, it does feel like he has asserted himself as Wales’ first-choice outside-half.

9. Tomos Williams — 7

The Saracens player had a substandard Six Nations campaign, but showed the levels that earned him a place on the British and Irish Lions tour last summer. Kept his side’s tempo up in attack brilliantly with quick offloads and quick thinking, trying to catch Fiji sleeping with kicks in behind.

1. Rhys Carré — 6

What a last campaign it was for the 28-year-old with Wales, but aside from the odd carry and improving Wales’ scrum from last weekend, that was pretty much it from the loose-head. Having scored three tries in the Six Nations, he added to that tally this year with Wales with a cross early into the second half, but was replaced shortly afterwards.

2. Dewi Lake — 7.5

Lake is growing into the skipper role brilliantly, and after handling the off-field politics in the week, the hooker had a quieter performance but still contributed well to his side. His arrows were his main highlight, and for the second consecutive weekend, Wales could use them as a catalyst and scored twice from catch and drives.

3. Dillon Lewis — 5

It was not the best of international returns last weekend in south-west London, and with Lewis’ understudy Ben Warren earning his first cap, the pressure is on the 30-year-old this summer. Yet again, there remain unwanted questions surrounding his performance, and he was replaced early in the second half by Warren.

4. Ben Carter — 6.5

The unpretentious second row, who is Wales’ number one option for the Nations Championship and is the main lineout caller. Again, he was great value for his side in defence, and in attack when Wales were close to the Fijian whitewash, carried incredibly hard.

5. Adam Beard — 6

The 30-year-old started his first game for Wales since facing France in February and had one of his better performances for his national side in a long time. Defensively, he was very strong around the breakdown and regathered possession for his side, but in the first half he was Wales’ most ill-disciplined player. That didn’t stain his international return that much.

6. Alex Mann — 7

Following being rested for last weekend’s contest in Twickenham, the blind-side was only on the pitch for a matter of minutes before being replaced by Cardiff teammate James Botham, as he went off for a head injury assessment (HIA). He returned after the 15-minute mark.

When he returned alongside Morgan and Wainwright in the back row, he put in a dominant performance, and it was very much needed against the powerful attacking threat of Fiji.

7. Jac Morgan — 7.5

Morgan last tasted a Test match victory with Wales back in 2023 at the Rugby World Cup against Australia, and started this contest on the front foot by scoring his ninth try for Wales before then reaching half a century of points later in the opening 40. Richly deserved the Player of the Match award.

8. Aaron Wainwright — 8

The Leicester Tigers back-row remains Wales’ best player, and he continued his impressive form against Fiji. His work rate once again was outstanding, and he is brilliantly setting the bar for those around him to aspire to.

A complete nuisance when in attack and got his side over the gainline more often than not. He’s going to need to carry on this impressive form as Wales head to the southern hemisphere for next fortnight.