For his first list since his return as coach, Warren Gatland summoned 37 players on Tuesday, including four novices, to prepare for the next Six Nations Tournament. Hooker Ken Owens (36) was named captain.
Returning to the head of the Leek fifteenth in early December, after a series of catastrophic autumn tests, Warren Gatland is doing a kind of squad review as the World Cup in France looms. “It’s a probably bigger group than what I would normally choose, but we hope to have a good tournament and also have to think about the World Cup”he explained in the statement of the federation.
For the first match of the Wales Tournament on February 4, against Ireland in Cardiff, Gatland named hooker Ken Owens as captain and recorded the return of some injured players this autumn, such as Wyn Jones and Dewi Lake on the front line. or Liam Williams at the back. Props Leon Brown, Rhys Carré, third-row Aaron Wainwright, scrum-half Rhys Webb and fly-half Rhys Patchell and Owen Williams also return to the squad.
16th Tournament for Alun Wyn JonesGatland also called up four newcomers: second-row Rhys Davies, center Kieran Williams, three-quarterback Mason Grady and third-row Teddy Williams.
“We have a few young people joining the group and we also have a few older, very experienced players whose playing time we have to manage. We will have to look at all of these elements and find the right balance, because the ten months to coming are for sure going to be a challenge”, commented Gatland, who does not however close the door to absent players. The iconic Welsh second line Alun Wyn Jones (37) has been called up for his 16th Tournament. Wales had finished fifth and penultimate in the last Tournament, with in particular a humiliating home defeat against Italy (21-22).
