Out with the old, in with a New Zealander and three young pups
Warren Gatland has culled versatile Gloucester back James Hook and Cardiff prop Adam Jones from his 2015 Six Nations squad. The Welsh coach has included four uncapped players in an initial 34-man squad for this year’s championship.
The highlight of this morning’s squad announcement was the fast-tracking of New Zealand native Gareth Anscombe into the national set-up. Anscombe, son of former Ulster coach, Mark, plays out-half and arrived from Super Rugby’s Waikato Chiefs to Cardiff Blues near the end of 2014.
The other new faces are promising prop Rob Evans, hooker Kristian Dacey and for Wales U20 midfield star Tyler Morgan.
‘It’s great to be able to name such an experienced squad that also boasts some exciting young talent,’ said Gatland. ‘The four uncapped players have all been going well for their respective regions and it will be good to see them in this environment and we hope they take the opportunity.’
WALES 6 NATIONS SQUAD:
Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Paul James (Bath), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), James King (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, Capt), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Backs: Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon).
UPDATE: And now the Scottish squad has been named by Vern Cotter. Four new players, all from Edinburgh, come in. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Ben Toolis, Hugh Blake and Hamish Watson are the new quartet while 15 players come from Glasgow.
FORWARDS: Hugh Blake (Edinburgh Rugby), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Cowan, Geoff Cross (both London Irish), David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), Jim Hamilton (Saracens), Rob Harley, Euan Murray, Gordon Reid (all Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Ben Toolis, Hamish Watson (both Edinburgh Rugby), Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors).
BACKS: Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar, (Glasgow Warriors) Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg, Peter Horne (both Glasgow Warriors) Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester), Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Henry Pyrgos, Finn Russell (all Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Tonks, Tim Visser (both Edinburgh Rugby).
