Gatland Names Six Nations Squad

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has this afternoon named a 32-man squad to defend their title as Six Nations Champions.

Captain Warburton, who led the Lions to victory in Australia, was a doubt before the selection due to a long-standing shoulder injury since the nation’s autumn defeat to Australia.

After Cardiff Blues boss Phil Davies has stated he is a couple of weeks away from fitness, giving him little time to find form before facing the Azzurri, Gatland still named the flanker in the squad and as his captain.

In addition to this there are no uncapped players in the squad, with a number of other injury worries taking places.

Notably, Cardiff prop Gethin Jenkins has been included despite concerns over a damaged knee, suffered in his side’s loss to his former club Toulon this weekend.

Also, Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies, who is not expected back in action until early March while he continues his recovery from a chest muscle injury, is in the squad.

Former Blues centre Jamie Roberts, now with Paris-based Racinbg Metro, also features after he missed this season’s autumn internationals because of injury.

Elsewhere, Williams, loses out behind Gatland's preferred scrum-half trio of Mike Phillips, Rhodri Williams and fit-again Ospreys number nine Rhys Webb; whilst Dan Biggar of the Ospreys and Scarlets star Rhys Priestland look set to contest the fly-half spot, although Perpignan's James Hook is also picked.

Gatland, Sports Personality’s coach of the year, is back in full-time following his sabbatical to coach the British and Irish Lions to a memorable series win in Australia in 2013.

Wales are seeking to become the first country in Six Nations history to win a hat-trick of titles. They kick off their campaign at home to Italy on February 1.

Gatland's men then face France at the Millennium Stadium on 21 February in a Friday night match, before rounding off their campaign in March away to England and then against Scotland in Cardiff.

"We have got an opportunity to create history, and that is something we will focus on and something that will give us extra motivation," Gatland said.

"We have got the three games at home and two tough away games, but when we won the Grand Slam in 2008 and 2012 we had these fixtures, so we know it can be done.

"The Six Nations is always a tough competition. You need a little bit of luck and momentum, and that's why we need to start well against Italy first up.

"We've picked a pretty experienced squad and kept it fairly tight at this stage.

"There is a possibility we may add one or two players in. There are a few younger guys that need a bit of rugby, so we were keen for them to stay with the region. Perhaps after the first couple of rounds when they have some more rugby under their belts we may add them into the squad.

"One of the things we have tried to create is an environment where the players look forward to coming into the national team. We are blessed with some of the best facilities and the best stadium in the world, so there is no lack of motivation for the players when they come in to the squad."

Welsh rugby is currently in the grip of a volatile political climate due to an ongoing dispute between the Welsh Rugby Union and Wales' four professional regions.

But Gatland added: "We know there are some politics going on at the moment, but we will put that to one side, come together as a group and focus on the rugby and what we can control.

"We can't wait to kick off the tournament at home against Italy."