Scarlets prop Rob Evans, Cardiff Blues duo Kristian
Dacey and Gareth Anscombe and Newport Gwent Dragon, Tyler Morgan are named as
the uncapped quartet and will meet up with the squad when they begin
preparations for the tournament next Monday (January 28th).
Scott Andrews and Gareth Davies are recalled and join 28 players who were
involved in the recent Dove Men Series.
In the front row, former Wales U20 prop Evans, who has impressed in his 17
outings for the Scarlets this season, joins the experienced Gethin Jenkins and
Paul James. Hookers Richard Hibbard, Scott Baldwin and uncapped Dacey join
Aaron Jarvis, Samson Lee and Andrews completing the front-row contingent.
The second rows remain unchanged from the autumn campaign with Alun Wyn Jones,
Jake Ball, Bradley Davies and Luke Charteris all named.
Gatland's back-row options include Ospreys trio Dan Lydiate, James King and
Justin Tipuric along with captain Sam Warburton and Newport Gwent Dragons'
Taulupe Faletau.
Gareth Davies, who earned his first cap against South Africa last summer,
returns from injury to be included along with Mike Phillips and Rhys Webb.
Dan Biggar and Rhys Priestland are joined by Anscombe who is named in a Wales
squad for the first time.
Wales' midfield options include British and Irish Lions duo Jamie Roberts and
Jonathan Davies along with Scott Williams, Cory Allen and Morgan.
Morgan, who recently signed a National Dual Contract, has also been named in
the Wales U20 squad and he will be released from the senior camp to link up
with the age-group side during the campaign.
Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams, George North, Alex Cuthbert and Hallam Amos are
named as the back-three options.
Wales kick off the tournament with a Friday night fixture against England at
the Millennium Stadium and Gatland is looking forward to linking up with the
squad next week.
<"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. They come into a squad packed with experience and that
experience will be important to us over the next eight weeks and the year as a
whole.
"We
all know how tough the Six Nations is and we kick the tournament off with a
huge game against England and that is something you have to be excited about
and look forward to.
"We
were pleased on the whole with the autumn campaign and this is another
opportunity for us as we look ahead to a very big year in the rugby calendar.”
WALES
2015 RBS 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).
