How will Wales fare on Nations Championship return?

Wales will resume the Nations Championship in fifth place in the northern hemisphere standings after a mixed July campaign.

It started with an encouraging six-try victory against Fiji at the Cardiff City Stadium, which was considered a home venue for the Pacific Islanders side.

But Wales faltered during a demanding travelling schedule as they were outclassed by Argentina in San Juan and thrashed by South Africa in Durban.

Now they face a trio of home games in Cardiff with the opening match staged against Eddie Jones' Japan side, whom also sit fifth in their table, with the two teams potentially meeting twice this November.

The tests will become harder when Dave Rennie brings his New Zealand side to Cardiff on 14 November, before the Wallabies arrive seven days later.

Results so far

Saturday, 4 July: Fiji 24-39 Wales

Saturday, 11 July: Argentina 35-21 Wales

Saturday, 18 July: South Africa 43-0 Wales

Remaining fixtures

Saturday, 7 November: Wales v Japan, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 16:40 GMT

Saturday, 14 November: Wales v New Zealand, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 14:10 GMT

Saturday, 21 November: Wales v Australia, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 20:10 GMT.

Uncapped Dragons duo Aneurin Owen and Che Hope and Cardiff prop Rhys Barrett were named in a 39-strong group for the November Tests, with hooker Dewi Lake again handed the captaincy.

Head coach Tandy called up Dragons lock Seb Davies and Cardiff number eight Taine Basham for the first time since he took charge of the national side.

Dragons wing Rio Dyer initially earned a recall, but was ruled out because of a hamstring injury and replaced by uncapped Scarlets back Macs Page.

Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell and scrum-half Kieran Hardy were among the notable absentees because of injury, while veteran number eight Taulupe Faletau is also absent.

Fifteen of the players are based outside of Wales with 14 plying their club trade in England and Montpellier lock Adam Beard based in France.

Forwards: Rhys Barratt, Rhys Carre, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake (capt), Liam Belcher, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Archie Griffin, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Ben Carter, Seb Davies, Dafydd Jenkins, Teddy Williams, Taine Basham, James Botham, Kane James, Alex Mann, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree, Aaron Wainwright.

Backs: Che Hope, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Tomos Williams, Sam Costelow, Dan Edwards, Joe Hawkins, Louie Hennessey, Eddie James, Max Llewellyn, Aneurin Owen, Josh Adams, Macs Page, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Ellis Mee, Blair Murray, Louis Rees-Zammit, Tom Rogers.

On the final weekend in November, there is a three-day play-off event staged at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham.

The sixth-placed team in the northern hemisphere plays off against the equivalent in the southern hemisphere standings and so on, culminating in the two top-ranked sides taking each other on.

On Friday evening the sixth-placed and third-place finishers will face each other, while Saturday will see the fifth-place and second place matches.

The Sunday finale will see the fourth-placed sides compete before the winner of that final match between the top seeds crowned the inaugural Nations Championship winner.

There is also a parallel, Ryder-Cup style, hemisphere title.

The winner of each of the matches on the play-offs weekend will earn one point for their hemisphere, except for the contest between the two top-ranked teams which delivers two.

The first hemisphere to earn four points over the weekend will be crowned winners.