Taulupe Faletau withdraws from Wales squad for Quilter Nations Series through injury, replaced by Leicester Tigers' Olly Cracknell

Experienced No. 8 Taulupe Faletau has been forced to withdraw from Wales’ Quilter Nations Series squad after suffering a knee injury.

The 34-year-old has amassed 109 international caps since making his Wales debut in 2011, but he will not feature this autumn after picking up a knock during Cardiff's win over Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday.

Faletau will be replaced in the squad by Leicester Tigers star Olly Cracknell, who helped his club side beat Sale Sharks 36-35 in the PREM on Saturday.

Wales will get their QNS campaign underway on November 9 when they face Argentina, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, and head coach Steve Tandy believes his side will be missing a "world-class" talent.

"It's hugely disappointing to lose Toby to injury as he's a world-class player," he said. "But Olly's been playing really well for Leicester and we're excited to add him to the squad."

Wales will follow up their clash with Los Pumas by taking on Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa during an action-packed November.

Tandy’s side finally ended an 18-match losing run last summer when they defeated Japan 31-22 in July.

Prior to that, they had failed to win a match for almost two years, a run that resulted in Warren Gatland leaving his role as head coach by mutual consent.

Wales have several options at No. 8, including British & Irish Lions star Jac Morgan, Aaron Wainwright, and Morgan Morse.

Faletau’s 31-year-old replacement, Cracknell, is yet to win a cap for Wales and previously played for Ospreys before joining London Irish in 2021.

The QNS will get underway on Saturday, with England going head-to-head with bitter rivals Australia live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Scotland will also take on the USA on a mouth-watering opening weekend.

Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff), Adam Beard (Montpellier), Liam Belcher (Cardiff), Rhys Carre (Saracens), Ben Carter (Dragons), Brodie Coghlan (Dragons), Christian Coleman (Dragons), Olly Cracknell (Leicester Tigers), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), James Fender (Ospreys), Archie Griffin (Bath), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Alex Mann (Cardiff), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Morgan Morse (Ospreys), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), Danny Southworth (Cardiff), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).

Josh Adams (Cardiff), Jacob Beetham (Cardiff), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), Louie Hennessey (Bath), Max Llewellyn (Gloucester), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Callum Sheedy (Cardiff), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Tomos Williams (Gloucester).

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