By Alys Haynes
Ospreys outside-half Dan Edwards and Scarlets wing Ellis Mee are the two uncapped players to have been named in coach Warren Gatland’s Wales squad for the Six Nations.
Gatland has also included hooker Sam Parry – who walked out of a national camp last year after feeling disrespected by the Wales coach – along with a number of players who have recovered from recent injuries.
Cardiff’s Cameron Winnett, Dragons’ Rio Dyer and Scarlets’ Taine Plumtree are three notable absentees from Gatland’s 34-man squad despite being key team members throughout the Autumn campaign, as well as Gareth Anscombe, who was recently injured playing for Gloucester.
Sam Costelow is amongst those ruled out due to an injury sustained on Friday night against Gloucester. A fractured collar bone will see Costelow out of the running for 12 weeks whilst he undergoes surgery.
Josh Adams, Elliot Dee, Taulupe Faletau, Dafydd Jenkins, Joe Roberts and Liam Williams return having missed the Autumn Nations Series due to injury.
Here is your 3️⃣4️⃣-man squad for our 2025 @SixNationsRugby campaign ⤵️#WelshRugby | #GuinnessM6N
— Welsh Rugby Union (@WelshRugbyUnion) January 13, 2025
Two uncapped players are selected among the 19 forwards and 15 backs named today: Ospreys fly-half Dan Edwards and Scarlets wing Ellis Mee.
Another eight players are in line to make their first Six Nations appearance, including Ellis Bevan, Josh Hathaway, Eddie James, Blair Murray and Freddie Thomas who all made their international debuts in 2024.
There are also recalls for tighthead prop WillGriff John and hooker Sam Parry in a Wales squad that has an average age of 26.
Gatland said: “We’ve selected a squad that we feel has a good blend of exciting young talent and experience.
Ellis Mee and Dan Edwards the 2 uncapped players in Wales’ 34-man Six Nations squad. Recalls for Taulupe Faletau, Josh Adams, Elliot Dee, Dafydd Jenkins, Joe Roberts, Sam Parry and WillGriff John.
Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn, Taine Plumtree and Cam Winnett miss out.
— Steffan Thomas (@Steffan_Thomas1) January 13, 2025
“This group of players has a huge amount of potential and we will be working incredibly hard together this campaign. The Six Nations is a special competition full of passion and some great rivalries and we have a good challenge to start the Championship away in France.
“I’m excited for our campaign to kick off next week and we’re looking to hit the ground running when the squad convenes. Every single training session is incredibly important in terms of our preparation for that first game and I’ll be looking to see a lot of hard work and everyone working together.
“As ever there are going to be some very disappointed players who have missed out on selection. The message to them is keep working hard because you never know what may happen.”
The 2025 Guinness Six Nations Championship officially opens on Friday 31 January as Wales face France away in Paris. This is followed by a trip to Rome to play Italy the following Saturday.
Wales then face Ireland in round three, their first home fixture of the Championship. Two weeks’ later Wales travel to Edinburgh for a match against Scotland, before concluding the 2025 edition of the competition at home at Principality Stadium against England on Saturday 15 March.