Hello everyone, I hope you all had a very good Christmas, and an excellent start to the New Year. 2012 looks set to be a fantastic year for sport, with the eagerly anticipated 6 Nations starting in just over 2 weeks, the Football European Championships in Poland and Ukraine, and not forgetting, the London Summer Olympic games. Baring all of this in mind, let's crack on with what looks set to be a great 6 Nations tournament for Wales.
The preliminary squad was announced today by Warren Gatland, and contains a few surprises, though many could be down to changes made through injuries to more prominent players. Alun-Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris, Gatland's first choice second-row pairing, will miss the whole tournament through injury, and there are fitness concerns over Jamie Roberts, who has a knee problem. Other injured players that are not in the squad are Lloyd Burns, the Dragons hooker who has a neck injury, and Scarlets back-rowers Rob McCusker and Josh Turnbull.
When announcing the squad, Gatland reported that "the emphasis on development and planning for the future is there for everyone to see". Those words might have signalled the death-knell to fly-half Stephen Jones' international career, after he too was also left out of the squad, following a record 104 caps for Wales. Even though Jones is missing, Gatland has only included 4 players in the squad who were not part of the extended 45-man pre World Cup squad, or the friendly against Australia in December. So, who has Gatland bought in that he deems to be the "future"? Here is a run down of the players you might not recognise:
Harry Robinson - The most surprising selection of Gatland's, Robinson is 18 and plays on the wing for the Cardiff Blues. He is uncapped at senior level by both the Blues and Wales, but has made several appearances for the Wales Rugby Sevens team. He is nimble, much like Shane Williams, and will provide defences problems when he is presented an opportunity to run with the ball in hand, due to his explosive speed.
Ashley Beck - The Ospreys in-form centre, the 21 year old has reached 38 caps already, and has scored an impressive 25 points. He is now the Ospreys first choice number 12.
Rhys Webb - Another Ospreys player, this time at scrum half. He is 23 years old, and has made 12 appearances for the region. Webb has come through the youth ranks of the Wales set up, and was part of the Rugby Sevens team that won Gold at the Dubai Sevens Rugby World Cup in 2009.
Liam Williams - 20 year old Williams plays for the Scarlets at full-back, making 13 appearances and scoring 20 points for them. He comes into the squad as one of only two natural full-backs, the other being Lee Byrne.
Rhodri Jones - Capped already 31 times by the Scarlets, the 21 year old will be looking to push for a regular starting place in the Welsh set up.
Lou Reed - The 24 year old is already half of the Scarlets first choice lock pairing, and has made 103 appearances for the region. He will be looking to get in the Welsh second row with the injuries in that area hampering the squad.
Along with these relative unknowns, Gatland has also recalled Gavin Henson to the squad, after he missed the World Cup through injury. Though only making 3 appearances for the Blues since October, Henson is highly rated by the Welsh coaching set up, due to his versatility.
The 35 man squad will be trimmed down after the 7 day training camp in Poland, which starts on Saturday. I shall post the the final squad when it becomes available.
As for now, I shall wish everyone a good week, don't forget you can feel free to leave a comment if you so wish, and spread to all your friends, family, or to anyone you feel would like to view this!
Wales' 35-man training squad for the 6 Nations:
Backs: Mike Phillips (Bayonne), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Rhys Preistland (Scarlets), James Hook (Perpignan), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Gavin Henson (Cardiff Blues), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), George North (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Harry Robinson (Cardiff Blues), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Lee Bryne (Clermont Auvergne)
Forwards: Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Paul James (Ospreys), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Lou Reed (Scarlets), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sam Warburton (capt, Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Toby Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), Andy Powell (Sale Sharks)
Dewch ar Cymru!
