Wales name Biggar to skipper squad containing 3 uncapped players

Wayne Pivac has named three uncapped players - Ospreys duo Dewi Lake (hooker) and Jac Morgan (back row) alongside Cardiff's James Ratti (back row) - in a 36-man Wales squad that will be skippered by seasoned out-half Dan Biggar in the 2022 Guinness Six Nations.

Another five players could be in line to make their first Six Nations appearance, including Bradley Roberts and Christ Tshiunza who made their international debut in the recent Autumn Nations Series. Biggar will captain in the absence of the injured Alun Wyn Jones, with Adam Beard named as vice-captain.

Pivac said: "We are excited to get back together as a squad when we meet up on Monday. The Six Nations is a very special competition and we want to go out and win, like every other nation. This is tournament rugby, so it’s about working hard in training and preparing well each week.

"Last year the Six Nations offered fans an exciting brand of rugby with lots of tries and, while we know we have five tough matches ahead and the margins in Test rugby are fine, we are looking forward to the challenge. With the World Cup on the horizon next year, every match will be important for development on the road to France.

"In terms of captaincy, we have named Dan Biggar. With the experience missing, we wanted someone who had experienced the competition on a number of occasions and knows the rigours of it. 

“He gives us that – he has 95 Wales caps and has toured with the British and Irish Lions. Dan has the respect of the other players and management so we think he will do a great job." The Wales squad will meet up at the national training base in Hensol on Monday, January 24, ahead of its first game against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, February 5.

WALES 2022 GUINNESS SIX NATIONS SQUAD

Forwards (20)

Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 16 caps)

Wyn Jones (Scarlets – 38 caps)

Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 5 caps)

Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 23 caps)

Dewi Lake (Ospreys – uncapped)

Bradley Roberts (Ulster Rugby – 1 cap)

Leon Brown (Dragons – 16 caps)

Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 60 caps)

Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 34 caps)

Adam Beard (Ospreys – 29 caps), vice-captain

Ben Carter (Dragons – 5 caps)

Seb Davies (Cardiff Rugby – 13 caps)

Will Rowlands (Dragons – 13 caps)

Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 2 caps)

Taine Basham (Dragons – 7 caps)

Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Rugby – 14 caps)

Jac Morgan (Ospreys – uncapped)

Ross Moriarty (Dragons – 49 caps)

James Ratti – (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)

Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 34 caps)

Backs (16)

Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 65 caps)

Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 8 caps)

Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 29 caps)

Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys – 29 caps)

Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints – 95 caps), captain

Rhys Priestland (Cardiff Rugby – 52 caps)

Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears – 13 caps)

Jonathan Davies (Scarlets – 93 caps)

Uilisi Halaholo (Cardiff Rugby – 9 caps)

Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 16 caps)

Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 26 caps)

Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 35 caps)

Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 48 caps)

Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 12 caps)

Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets – 8 caps)

Liam Williams (Scarlets – 74 caps)

• Players unavailable for selection due to injury: Elliott Dee, Ken Owens, Alun Wyn Jones, Taulupe Faletau, Dan Lydiate, Josh Macleod, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Johnny Williams, George North, Leigh Halfpenny