Davies backed for Wales return in Six Nations

Rhys Davies has returned from a nine-month injury lay-off for Ospreys

Rhys Davies has been backed to push for a Wales return in the Six Nations.

The Ospreys lock made a successful return to rugby on New Year's Day after nine months out with a serious knee injury.

It was a timely return little more than four weeks before Wales' championship opener against France on 31 January.

Fit-again former captain Dafydd Jenkins will be favourite to partner Will Rowlands in Paris.

But with Adam Beard and Ben Carter already ruled out for the start of the championship, Davies could force his way into the reckoning.

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones believes 2025 can be the 26-year-old's breakthrough year.

"To produce that performance [against Cardiff] after so long out was phenomenal," said Jones.

"Rhys has been relentless in his rehab work as he proved by playing the full 80 minutes on an artificial pitch, which is 10% quicker than a grass pitch.

"That was a massive credit to both Rhys and the conditioning team after nine months out."

Jones added: "He produces those eye-catching moments but he also does all the dirty work that you need, defending the maul, pushing in the scrums.

"He's relentless with that type of stuff and personifies what we're about at the Ospreys, the team's attitude, fitness and ability to mentally stay in the fight."

Davies was part of Gatland's extended World Cup training squad but missed out on selection after winning the last of his three caps against England in August 2023.

Cardiff's Teddy Williams, Exeter's Christ Tshiunza and Gloucester's Freddie Thomas will also compete for the expected four second-row places when Gatland names his Six Nations squad later this month.

Williams is the only one of the four hopefuls who was part of the Six Nations last year and has made the most tackles in the United Rugby Championship so far this season.

Rookie Thomas only made his Test debut against South Africa in November and remains eligible for Wales having already signed a new deal at Kingsholm.

Tshiunza played all three games of the autumn series as a lock, though is seen as a future blindside flanker by Wales.