Wales Six Nations squad LIVE: Wayne Pivac reveals team for 2022 tournament
Wales have named an expanded 36-man group for the tournament
Northampton fly-half Dan Biggar has been named as Wales captain for this season’s Six Nations.
Biggar takes over from the injured Alun Wyn Jones who is among a number of high-profile absentees.
Other players not part of the squad due to injuries are Jones’ fellow British and Irish Lions George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.
But flanker Ross Moriarty, who has not played since the autumn due to a shoulder problem, does make Wales head coach Wayne Pivac’s 36-man group.
The squad includes three uncapped players in hooker Dewi Lake, his Ospreys colleague – flanker Jac Morgan – and Cardiff number eight James Ratti.
Follow reaction and analysis below as Pivac reveals his 36-man squad:
No Manu Tuilagi, Sam Underhill or Elliot Daly
Beyond George Ford and the Vunipola brothers, who have not forced their way back in, the highest profile omissions are Manu Tuilagi, Sam Underhill and Elliot Daly.
Daly missed the autumn with a stress fracture in his back but is fit again and thus a surprising exclusion, while Underhill’s absence comes as a real shock - the openside had a solid autumn, combining well with Tom Curry, but appears to have paid the price for Bath’s struggles at club level and a desire to look at other back-row options.
We await an update on Tuilagi’s fitness - it may be that the centre comes back into the mix for England’s opener at Murrayfield if he proves his match readiness at club level over the next couple of weeks.
Six new faces
We will be hearing from Eddie Jones shortly but let’s dig into the squad in depth for a moment, starting with the six uncapped inclusions.
As teased, Alfie Barbeary and Orlando Bailey earn call-ups, while centre Luke Northmore is rewarded for consistent club form. Ollie Chessum, a workaholic, versatile 21-year-old from Leicester, joins Barbeary in the back-row mix while the dynamic Ollie Hassell-Collins and Tommy Freeman will jostle for places in the back three with no place for Adam Radwan.
England squad for Six Nations training camp - Backs
BACKS Mark Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap) Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby, uncapped) Owen Farrell (Saracens, 94 caps) Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, uncapped) George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 5 caps) Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped) Max Malins (Saracens, 10 caps) Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 7 caps) Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 69 caps) Luke Northmore (Harlequins, uncapped) Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps) Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, 2 caps) Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 2 caps) Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 43 caps) Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 5 caps) Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps) Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 112 caps)
England squad for Six Nations training camp - Forwards
FORWARDS Alfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped) Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 5 caps) Ollie Chessum, Leicester Tigers, uncapped) Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps) Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 36 caps) Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 4 caps) Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 26 caps) Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps) Jamie George (Saracens, 61 caps) Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps) Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps) Maro Itoje (Saracens, 51 caps) Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 90 caps) Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 10 caps) Joe Marler (Harlequins, 74 caps) Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps) Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps) Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 47 caps) Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)
BREAKING: England name 36-man squad ahead of 2022 Six Nations
Manu Tuilagi
The squad announcement is not far away at all now, but will Manu Tuilagi be included? The centre is yet to make his return to action after suffering his latest injury against South Africa in the autumn, though is expected to be back for Sale at some point before the end of the month. However with those involved at the Brighton training camp perhaps unlikely to feature for their clubs in the weekend before the start of the Six Nations, might Tuilagi be left out of the 36-player group to build up his fitness? We’ll find out in ten minutes or so.
Will any bolters make it?
It also wouldn’t be an Eddie Jones England squad without a surprise or two. One under-the-radar name who is believed to have been under consideration is Kyle Hatherell, Worcester Warriors’ South African-born back-rower who would offer plenty of physicality. The back row is an area of strength for England but Jones likes to look at new faces - could Hatherell or another unexpected name be included?
Room for an apprentice or two?
Eddie Jones likes to look to the future with his squads, often including younger players that he perceives as having real potential with an “apprentice” tag, allowing them to gain experience with the group without being included in the main squad.
That may be the route into this squad for Orlando Bailey, the young Bath fly-half with plenty of fine qualities.
New names in the frame
A group of 36 should allow Eddie Jones a chance to look at some newer faces. Boisterous back-rower bruiser Alfie Barbeary is among those tipped for a call-up having moved more permanently to the back of the scrum having come through as an impressive age-group hooker.
The Independent also understands that Jones and his coaching staff have been impressed by a number of Harlequins. Defensively sound wing Cadan Murley and well-rounded centre Luke Northmore have put themselves in contention with a series of solid showings, while resurgent tighthead Will Collier, who earned two caps in Argentina in 2017, is another who could sneak in.
England Six Nations Squad - Experienced trio set to again miss out
It is always best to expect the unexpected with Eddie Jones, but as things stand we are not expecting a recall for any of Mako Vunipola, Billy Vunipola and George Ford. The experienced trio were all left out for the Autumn Nations Series but have impressed with their performances at club level since, though it is unlikely they have done quite enough to convince Jones to hand them a Six Nations recall.
With Ford out, it is likely to again be Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell, who should be fit for the start of the tournament, as the first-choice fly-halves in the squad. Farrell is also expected to retain the captaincy.
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