Six Nations 2024: Cardiff Rugby's four new faces in the Wales squad

Left to right: Alex Mann, Cam Winnett, Evan Lloyd, Mackenzie Martin

Cardiff Rugby are celebrating after 11 of their players were included in Wales' squad for the Six Nations.

Four of those - back rows Mackenzie Martin and Alex Mann, hooker Evan Lloyd and full-back Cam Winnett - are uncapped and still inexperienced domestically.

Head coach Matt Sherratt and the players themselves tell BBC Sport Wales about the new names in the Wales squad.

"I'm so pleased for them. I actually got a bit emotional," said Sherratt.

"To see those boys get their international recognition - for them and their families - is fantastic.

"Without talking for the Welsh coaches, they may be in a similar situation to us here. They are building for the future.

"The selections are for them to have a closer look at them in camp and get to know their personalities and see close up.

"It's a brilliant opportunity for the lads. I think they should go into camp with the same attitude they've had playing for us.

"They've got everything to gain. This is a fantastic opportunity and they just need to go in with the excitement of a new cap and not have any fear."

Mackenzie Martin, back row, 20 years old

Mackenzie Martin is a destructive ball-carrier who has played for Wales Under-20s

"I was on the phone to Mark Jones when he was Wales Under-20s coach, I was asking about our boys and he said Mackenzie's got a big future because he's six foot five and he's fast, which is pretty difficult to coach," said Sherratt.

"He said one of his big work-ons would be his conditioning and, genuinely as he said it, Mackenzie and [team-mate] Lucas de la Rua walked out of the tunnel and started doing fitness drills and I thought: 'There's a good sign they've just come back from the World Cup and doing that.'

"Coming into the first team squad and is probably a test of his maturity. Seeing how he conducted himself, his effort in training, seeing what his attention was like in meetings, he answered every question quite quickly.

"He has trained well, his physical conditioning has got a lot better. He's been great off the pitch. He works with Ellis Jenkins, Josh Turnbull and Thomas Young. They've given him advice and he's lapped it all up.

"In such a short space of time, the kind of progression he has made has been phenomenal.

"I think the key for me, without being a killjoy, is to enjoy this but get in there and work as hard as you can and make sure that you get every ounce of detail and professionalism from the Welsh camp, and keep your feet on the ground."

Evan Lloyd, hooker, 22

Penarth product Evan Lloyd started his career in the back row

"You only had to look at him a couple of times in pre-season to see he has got all the attributes of an international rugby player," said Sherratt.

"I was at Bristol when Stuart McInally, the former Scotland captain who played for the British Lions, came to Bristol as another converted back-rower to learn how to throw.

"Evan reminds me of him - a good athlete, great feet, brilliant mentality.

"Converting late to hooker, there are some set-piece skills to learn. Evan is not bad at set-pieces, he's just developing there.

"He's got a load of the attributes and the mentality to have great career as a hooker

"Sometimes your best pair of eyes are the current international. I was sat next to Josh Adams on a flight to France and the first name he mentioned when he come back was Evan. I'm dead chuffed for him."

Alex Mann, back row, 22

Alex Mann is a blind-side flanker who lists Cardiff team-mate Taulupe Faletau among his inspirations

"It's everything you dream of when you first pick up a rugby ball. It's massive to have the opportunity to train with the national squad," said Mann.

"There's a long way to go yet, a lot of hard work, so I'm not getting ahead of myself. But it's huge, especially for my friends and family. So I'm hoping to just get stuck in and give it my best shot.

"I was in the changing room and I normally delete all my emails but then I saw one from a new address it said 'Congratulations'.

"It's unbelievable. It's my dream but my focus has just been on working hard with Cardiff and seeing where I go from there.

"At the start of the season, I wrote down a few things I wanted to achieve and it's gone well so far but I'm not getting ahead of myself.

"The boys in the back row have helped me develop. I feel like I've got a lot to improve and that's the exciting thing for me.

"I want to be an all-round player, having an impact with and without the ball, develop and get bigger and stronger."

Cam Winnett, full-back, 21

Full-back Cam Winnett made his Cardiff debut in 2021

"Cam has been amazing this year, probably everything you'd want from a full-back," said his team-mate, Cardiff and Wales fly-half and centre Ben Thomas.

"He's been a rock under the high ball and been great in attack."

Sherratt added: "Cam has been excellent so far this season.

"He is a good person and professional which has shown in the consistency of his performances."

Winnett suffered an injury to his jaw during last Saturday's Champions Cup defeat against Harlequins but that is not expected to keep him out for long.

"We're fortunate. It's a slight crack in his jaw but it's in a part of the jaw where it's not as serious as it could have been," said Sherratt.

"Next week he should be able to be up and running. He's been lucky there. A couple of weeks [he'll be back playing] hopefully."