Cardiff fly half Anscombe selected in Wales Six Nations squad

Wales coach Warren Gatland has named Cardiff Blues’ 23-year-old Gareth Anscombe in his Six Nations squad, who is previously uncapped. The fly half is joined by fellow rookies prop Rob Evans, hooker Kristian Dacey and centre Tyler Morgan.

Gatland has revealed that he is excited about the amount of young talent in the squad. “It’s great to be able to name such an experienced squad that also boasts some exciting young talent,” he said.

“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.”

Wales are 3/1 third favourites with Coral to win the Six Nations and Gatland has admitted that it is a tough tournament.

“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,” Gatland continued. “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.”

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).