Hathaway handed debut as Thomas given Wales fly-half role

Cardiff centre Ben Thomas is set to be handed the Wales fly-half role while Gloucester wing Josh Hathaway is in line for a debut in the first Test against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

Thomas, 25, is set to replace Sam Costelow and make his first international start in his third Test match following two replacement appearances in 2021.

He is expected to partner Cardiff team-mate Ellis Bevan after the scrum-half made his debut in the 41-13 defeat against South Africa at Twickenham last month.

After missing the Six Nations because of his club commitments in Japan, Liam Williams is in line to switch to full-back from the wing position he occupied against the Springboks.

If Williams is restored to his favoured position, Cameron Winnett would drop out of the starting side after starting the last six internationals.

Mason Grady, who played most of his rugby on the wing for Cardiff last season, is also set to continue out of position at inside-centre having been given the number 12 jersey against South Africa.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland only named one specialist fly-half in Costelow for the summer squad with Thomas and fellow Cardiff player Jacob Beetham acting as cover.

Wales have been searching for a fly-half successor to the retired Dan Biggar and unavailable Gareth Anscombe, with Costelow starting four games in the Six Nations and the defeat against the Springboks.

Gatland says he has been looking for more physical options at 10 and overlooked Ioan Lloyd for the Australia trip.

Thomas has only made one start at 10 for Cardiff this season with 16 appearances in his more natural inside-centre position.

South African fly-half Tinus de Beer started almost every match for the Arms Park side, while Callum Sheedy will arrive at Cardiff from Bristol for next season.

Hathaway was named in Wales' training squad for the summer Tests but was unavailable for the defeat to South Africa because the match fell outside World Rugby's international window which ruled out English-based club players.

Aberystwyth-born Hathaway, who has represented Wales and England at Under-20 level, offers options at full-back and wing.

Wales have moved to secure his services after Exeter wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was in a similar position earlier this season and chose to play for England.