Wales name Thomas Young in Six Nations squad

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has announced a 39-man squad for the forthcoming Six Nations, including Wasps openside flanker Thomas Young.

The experienced squad, led by captain Alun Wyn Jones, kick off the 2019 tournament in Paris against France on Friday, February 1.

The same 10 front-row forwards who featured in Wales’ 2018 November Tests squad are again named.

Scarlets pair Rob Evans and Wyn Jones along with Nicky Smith are named as the loosehead props with Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias and Ken Owens the hookers in the squad. Leon Brown, Tomas Francis, Samson Lee and Dillon Lewis provide the tighthead options.

Captain Jones, who has amassed 120 Wales caps and 48 Six Nations appearances to date, is joined by Jake Ball, Adam Beard, Seb Davies and Cory Hill as the second-rows.

Ross Moriarty, Aaron Wainwright and Justin Tipuric who all featured for Wales in the autumn are again named. Josh Navidi returns from injury to be included in the squad alongside call-ups for the versatile Josh Turnbull and Young.

Wales have selected the same three scrum-halves that featured last November in Gareth Davies, Aled Davies and Tomos Williams.

Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar, Rhys Patchell and Jarrod Evans, who made his international debut in 2018, are named as the fly-halves.

Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Owen Watkin and Scott Williams are the four centres named.

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Josh Adams, Hallam Amos, Steffan Evans, Leigh Halfpenny, Jonah Holmes, George North and Liam Williams provide Wales’ back-three options.

“We are incredibly excited heading into the 2019 Guinness Six Nations and we are looking forward to kicking the tournament off in Paris against France,” said Gatland.

“We have a really experienced squad of players, who have been around a number of campaigns together and we feel we are in a pretty good place going into this huge year.

“We have got a few injuries and have selected a larger squad because of that. We initially selected 40 players but that was reduced to 39 on Monday with Taulupe’s injury ruling him out.

“Six Nations rugby is an important time of year for rugby fans, players and coaches alike and we are all looking forward to meeting up and preparing for this year’s championship.”

Wales squad for Six Nations

Forwards: Rob Evans, Wyn Jones, Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias, Ken Owens, Leon Brown, Tomas Francis, Samson Lee, Dillon Lewis, Jake Ball, Adam Beard, Seb Davies, Cory Hill, Alun Wyn Jones (c), Ross Moriarty, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Josh Turnbull, Aaron Wainwright, Thomas Young

Backs: Aled Davies, Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar, Jarrod Evans, Rhys Patchell, Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Owen Watkin, Scott Williams, Josh Adams, Hallam Amos, Steffan Evans, Leigh Halfpenny, Jonah Holmes, George North, Liam Williams