Six Nations 2023: Ken Owens to captain Wales squad which includes four uncapped players
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Ken Owens (L) and Justin Tipuric are long-time Wales colleagues
Scarlets hooker Ken Owens will captain Wales in the Six Nations, taking over from Justin Tipuric.
Coach Warren Gatland has brought in four uncapped players to his 37-man squad - Cardiff duo Teddy Williams and Mason Grady and Ospreys pair Rhys Davies and Keiran Williams.
Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb is back alongside Rhys Carre, Rhys Patchell, Aaron Wainwright and Owen Williams.
Wales begin the Six Nations campaign against Ireland on 4 February.
Wyn Jones, Dewi Lake, Liam Williams and Dan Biggar return to the squad having missed the Autumn Nations Series due to injury.
There is also a recall for Dragons prop Leon Brown, while back row Ross Moriarty, prop Nicky Smith and hooker Ryan Elias, who has been carrying an Achilles injury, are among the notable absentees.
Captaincy conundrum
Owens, 36, has never previously led his country, but was given the nod after flanker Tipuric led Wales through the autumn series, while Biggar had been in charge for the 2022 Six Nations and summer tour of South Africa.
"Ken's incredibly experienced and a passionate Welshman - it means a lot to him to play for Wales," said Gatland.
"He's also very popular with the players. He came back from injury and was outstanding during the autumn campaign.
"Probably, if you're picking a team at the moment he's the number one in that position. But he's going to have some competition with Dewi and Bradley as well which is going to be great."
New faces
Lock Williams, 22, only made his first regional start in Cardiff's Challenge Cup win over Newcastle last weekend.
He is the son of Wales and Cardiff back row Owain Williams, who died aged 56 in 2021, and nephew of Owain's brother Gareth, a Wales and British and Irish Lions back row who passed away aged 63 in 2018.
Lock Rhys Davies was called up to the autumn internationals squad as injury cover. There are 14 Ospreys players named in the squad, which is the first named by Gatland since he returned for a second spell as Wales' head coach.
"Rhys has been involved with the squad and Teddy can come in and see what he can bring to the squad," added Gatland.
"It's a position we need to develop some depth in."
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Powerful centre Grady, 20, has impressed in midfield, while Ospreys centre Williams has been prominent in his region's revival.
"Mason is a big man and he's got some development to do," added Gatland.
"He's trained with the team in the past even though he wasn't named in the squad.
"We've been impressed with a couple of performances that we've seen. There's definitely more to come.
"Keiran is a bit different. He reminds me of a younger Scott Gibbs in the way that he plays and his stature with fantastic footwork in getting across the gainline. He's pretty exciting and it's a great opportunity."
Gloucester wing Louis Rees-Zammit, Brown and Cardiff front row Dillon Lewis have been included despite carrying injuries.
Rees-Zammit will miss the opening two games against Ireland and Scotland and Gatland hopes he will be fit to face England on 25 February.
"We're hoping he'll be available for the England game. He's one (injured player that we did name in the squad.
"There were a few other injured players which might potentially be available later in the Six Nations.
"We want to have the ability to give him some treatment and having a new attack coach to work with him as well.
"The indications are he should be up and running for the England game.
"Leon is back in full training now and is on the bench this weekend. Dillon is not too far away, although we don't know whether he will play or come into full training with us.
"Those are two players we need to get up to speed as quickly as we possibly can. All indications are they will be fit and ready to go from day one."
Gatland's first squad
During Gatland's initial 12-year reign, from 2007 to 2019, Wales won four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams and reached two World Cup semi-finals and were briefly the world's number one team.
The New Zealander was tempted back after a miserable 2022 for the Welsh, which included home defeats against Italy and Georgia that spelt the end for compatriot Wayne Pivac.
Gatland has hired Alex King and Mike Forshaw as replacements for Stephen Jones and Gethin Jenkins in his backroom staff and also confirmed Jonathan Thomas in his set-up.
Former England fly-half King briefly held the attack coach role in 2017 and played under Gatland at Wasps.
Ex-Great Britain rugby league international Forshaw has been prised away from Premiership outfit Sale to be in charge the Wales defence.
Wales squad
Forwards: Rhys Carre (Cardiff), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets, capt), Bradley Roberts (Dragon), Leon Brown (Dragons), Tomas Francis (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Teddy Williams (Cardiff), Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Backs: Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Tomos Williams (Cardiff), Dan Biggar (Toulon), Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Owen Williams (Ospreys), Mason Grady (Cardiff), Joe Hawkins (Ospreys), George North (Ospreys), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Keiran Williams (Ospreys), Josh Adams (Cardiff), Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester), Liam Williams (Cardiff).
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