Thomas Young has been recalled by Wales for the Six Nations, with coach Warren Gatland also including injured stars Leigh Halfpenny and Ross Moriarty in a squad of 39.

But whilst Wasps flanker Young returns, there is no place for Taulupe Faletau – confirmation that the Bath No.8 has no hope of making the tournament after breaking his arm for the second time in three months.

Young, 26, won the last of his two caps 18 months ago on tour against Samoa and must have feared more rejection after being omitted from the squad in the autumn.

But the son of former Wales captain and current Wasps coach Dai Young has been given another opportunity – after his exceptional club form in England – in an experienced group that includes no uncapped players.

Gatland has confirmed that his original selection was to have been 40 players until Faletau’s second arm fracture was confirmed on Monday evening.

The experienced squad, led by captain Alun Wyn Jones, kick off the 2019 tournament in Paris against France on Friday February 1.

The same ten front-row forwards who featured in Wales’ 2018 Under Armour Series squad are again named.  Scarlets pair Rob Evans and Wyn Jones along with Nicky Smith are named as the loose-head props with Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias and Ken Owens the hookers in the squad. Leon Brown, Tomas Francis, Samson Lee and Dillon Lewis provide the tight-head options.

Captain Jones, who has amassed 120 Wales caps and 48 Six Nations appearances to date, is joined by Jake Ball, Adam Beard, Seb Davies and Cory Hill as the second-rows.

Moriarty, Aaron Wainwright and Justin Tipuric who all featured for Wales in the autumn are again named.  Josh Navidi returns from injury to be included in the squad alongside call-ups for the versatile Josh Turnbull and Young.

Wales have selected the same three scrum-halves that featured last November in Gareth Davies, Aled Davies and Tomos Williams.

Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar, Rhys Patchell and Jarrod Evans, who made his international debut in 2018, are named as the fly-halves.

Jonathan Davies, Hadleigh Parkes, Owen Watkin and Scott Williams are the four centres named.

Josh Adams, Hallam Amos, Steffan Evans,  Halfpenny, Jonah Holmes, George North and Liam Williams provide Wales’ back-three options.

“We are incredibly excited heading into the 2019 Guinness Six Nations and we are looking forward to kicking the tournament off in Paris against France,” said Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland.

“We have a really experienced squad of players, who have been around a number of campaigns together and we feel we are in a pretty good place going into this huge year.

“We have got a few injuries and have selected a larger squad because of that.  “We initially selected 40 players but that was reduced to 39 on Monday with Taulupe’s injury ruling him out.

“Six Nations rugby is an important time of year for rugby fans, players and coaches alike and we are all looking forward to meeting up and preparing for this year’s championship.”

WALES SQUAD – 2019 GUINNESS SIX NATIONS
FORWARDS:
Rob Evans (Scarlets) (31 Caps)
Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (10 Caps)
Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (24 Caps)
Elliot Dee (Dragons) (13 Caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets) (6 Caps)
Ken Owens (Scarlets) (60 Caps)
Leon Brown (Dragons) (5 Caps)
Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (36 Caps)
Samson Lee (Scarlets) (38 Caps)
Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues) (8 Caps)
Jake Ball (Scarlets) (29 Caps)
Adam Beard (Ospreys) (8 Caps)
Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues) (7 Caps)
Cory Hill (Dragons) (22 Caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (120 Caps) (CAPT)
Ross Moriarty (Dragons) (26 Caps)
Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues) (11 Caps)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (60 Caps)
Josh Turnbull (Cardiff Blues) (10 Caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) (3 Caps)
Thomas Young (Wasps)  (2 Caps)

BACKS:
Aled Davies (Ospreys)  (12 Caps)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (36 Caps)
Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues) (6 Caps)
Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues) (21 Caps)
Dan Biggar (Northampton) (65 Caps)
Jarrod Evans (Cardiff Blues) (1 Cap)
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets) (11 Caps)
Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (67 Caps)
Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (10 Caps)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (8 Caps)
Scott Williams (Ospreys) (57 Caps)
Josh Adams (Worcester) (6 Caps)
Hallam Amos (Dragons) (18 Caps)
Steffan Evans (Scarlets) (12 Caps)
Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (80 Caps)
Jonah Holmes (Leicester) (1 Cap)
George North (Ospreys) (79 Caps)
Liam Williams (Saracens) (51 Caps)

 

Six Nations 2019 fixtures

 

All times below are GMT.

Week One 

Six Nations week 1 clashes take place from Friday 1st – Saturday 2nd February.

Fixtures : 

• France vs Wales– KO 8pm on Friday 1st February – Stade de France, Paris
• Scotland vs Italy – KO 2:15pm on Saturday 2nd February – Murrayfield, Edinburgh
• Ireland vs England – 4:45pm KO on Saturday 2nd February –  Aviva Stadium, Dublin
• France vs Wales – BBC/S4C/TV3
• Scotland vs Italy – BBC/TV3
• Ireland vs England – ITV/TV3

 

Week Two 

Six Nations week 2 clashes take place from Saturday 9th – Sunday 10th February.

Fixtures: 

• Scotland vs Ireland – KO 2:15pm on Saturday 9th February – Murrayfield, Edinburgh
• Italy vs Wales – KO 4:45pm on Saturday 9th February – Stadio Olimpico, Rome
• England vs France– KO 3pm on Sunday 10th February – Twickenham Stadium, London

 

• Scotland vs Ireland – BBC/TV3
• Italy vs Wales – ITV/S4C/TV3
• England vs France – ITV/TV3

 

Week Three 

Six Nations week 3 clashes take place from Saturday 23rd- Sunday 24th February.

Fixtures: 

• France vs Scotland – KO 2:15pm on Saturday 23rd February – Stade de France, Paris
• Wales vs England – KO 4:45pm on Saturday 23rd February – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
• Italy vs Ireland – KO 3pm on Sunday 24th February – Stadio Olimpico, Rome

• France vs Scotland – BBC/TV3
• Wales vs England – BBC/S4C/TV3
• Italy vs Ireland – ITV/TV3

 

Week 4

Six Nations week 4 clashes take place on Saturday 9th – Sunday 10th March.

Fixtures: 

• Scotland vs Wales– KO 2:15pm on Saturday 9th March – Murrayfield, Edinburgh
• England vs Italy– KO 4:45pm on Saturday 9th March – Stadio Olimpico, Rome
• Ireland vs France– KO 3pm on Sunday 10th March – Aviva Stadium, Dublin

 

• Scotland vs Wales – BBC/S4C/TV3
• England vs Italy – ITV/TV3
• Ireland vs France – ITV/TV3

 

Week 5 

Six Nations week 5 clash takes place on Saturday 16th March.

Fixtures: 

• Italy vs France – KO 12:30pm on Saturday 16th March – Stadio Olimpico, Rome
• Wales vs Ireland – KO 2:45pm on Saturday 9th March – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
• England vs Scotland – KO 5pm on Saturday 9th March – Twickenham Stadium, London
• Italy vs France –  ITV/TV3
• Wales vs Ireland – BBC/S4C/TV3
• England vs Scotland – ITV/TV3

 

 

Six Nations 2019 odds 

Winner: 

• Ireland – 5/6
• England – 3/1
• Wales – 9/2
• Scotland – 10/1
• France – 16/1
• Italy – 500/1

Grand Slam:

• Ireland – 5/2
• England – 8/1
• Wales – 12/1
• Scotland – 22/1
• France – 33/1
• Italy – 1000/1

Win Grand Slam and Rugby World Cup:

• Ireland – 12/1
• England – 33/1
• Wales – 66/1
• France – 200/1
• Scotland – 200/1

Wooden Spoon:

• Italy – 1/25
• France – 16/1
• Scotland – 30/1
• Wales – 40/1
• England – 200/1
• Ireland – 500/1

*Odds courtesy of Betfair