Mike Phillips and Dwayne Peel have both been left out of Wales squad for the Six Nations, however when fit the are shoe-ins. Others missing are; Scarlets flanker Dafydd Jones’ shoulder, props Duncan Jones (foot) and John Yapp (bicep) and centre Gavin Henson (indefinite unpaid leave).
Gareth Cooper is the experienced number nine, while Scarlets scrum-half Martin Roberts and uncapped Richie Rees are the other Six Nations calls. New boys are; Ospreys Kristian Phillips, 19, and Tom Prydie, 17, join Saracens prop Rhys Gill as Wales’ other uncapped players. While Sale prop Eifion Lewis-Roberts and Ospreys lock Ian Gough are recalled.
35-man Six Nations squad
Backs: Gareth Cooper, Leigh Halfpenny, Tom James, Richard Rees, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin (all Cardiff Blues) Dan Biggar, Andrew Bishop, Lee Byrne, James Hook, Kristian Phillips, Tom Prydie, Shane Williams (all Ospreys), Jonathan Davies, Stephen Jones, Martin Roberts (all Llanelli Scarlets)
Forwards: Bradley Davies, Gethin Jenkins, Deiniol Jones, Andy Powell, Sam Warburton, Gareth Williams, Martyn Williams (all Cardiff Blues), Huw Bennett, Ian Gough, Paul James, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Jonathan Thomas (all Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate (both Dragons, Eifion Lewis-Roberts (Sale Sharks), Rhys Gill (Saracens)