Wales senior men’s head coach Warren Gatland has named his team to face Scotland at a sold out Principality Stadium in the opening round of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations on Saturday 3 February (KO 4.45pm live on BBC and S4C).
Cameron Winnett will win his first senior international cap for Wales having been named at full-back. Rio Dyer and Josh Adams are selected on the wings.
At 21 years and 60 days old on Saturday, Dafydd Jenkins will become the second youngest man to captain Wales after Sir Gareth Edwards. Adam Beard partners Jenkins in the second row.
Owen Watkin returns to the Wales starting XV for the first time since November 2022. He lines up alongside Nick Tompkins in the midfield.
Corey Domachowski (loose-head prop) makes his first Six Nations appearance, he is joined in the front row by hooker Ryan Elias and tight-head prop Leon Brown.
The back row comprises James Botham (blind-side flanker), who is making his first Wales appearance for more than two years, Tommy Reffell at open-side flanker and Aaron Wainwright at No. 8.
Gareth Davies starts at scrum half. Sam Costelow, also featuring in his first Six Nations match, is named alongside his Scarlets clubmate at fly half.
Among the Wales replacements, back row Alex Mann could make his first senior international appearance this weekend if he follows Cardiff Rugby clubmate Winnett onto the Principality Stadium pitch.
Kemsley Mathias (loose-head prop), Keiron Assiratti (tight-head prop) and Teddy Williams (second row), who all won their first caps in the 2023 Vodafone Summer Series as well as Ioan Lloyd, who was first capped for Wales in autumn 2020, would join Domachowski and Costelow in making their Six Nations debut if appearing from the bench.
Elliot Dee (hooker) provides the remaining forward cover. Tomos Williams and Mason Grady are the other replacement backs.
Gatland said: “Cameron Winnett is just a lovely footballer and I think he’s going to develop into a quality international player in the future. He’s young and there’ll be no pressure on him. We’ve been impressed with the way that he’s trained. He’s done really well in training, progressed really well and following consultation with his surgeon everyone was happy for him to be selected.
“It’s also great that Alex Mann is on the bench and will hopefully get his debut as well.
“I think there’s a really nice balance in the squad.
“We’ve got some players who were involved in the world cup so have some experience and then some exciting youngsters and when I look at that forward pack, it’s not a small forward pack. It’s a big forward pack.
“Scotland haven’t won here in a long, long time and it’s an opportunity for us to continue with that record. The roof’s going to be open, Scotland want the roof open which I think is a little bit disappointing from an atmosphere point of view, because when that roof is shut it does tend to create a lot more atmosphere and noise in the stadium. But that’s the decision that they made.
“The players understand how important this first game is in the competition. The sold out stadium, go out there, you get the Six Nations off to a good start, you can create some momentum.
“I’ve been really pleased with their attitude and the way that they’ve trained this week and we should be really excited about this first game.”
On the absences of George North and Will Rowlands Gatland added: “George got quite a big stinger in terms of his shoulder and didn’t take part in full training last week so Owen Watkin comes into the midfield.
“Will hasn’t come into the squad yet. His wife had a baby a couple of weeks ago in France and unfortunately there were some complications. So the message to him has been you stay home and be with your family. We always talk about how important that is and he’ll turn up when he’s ready.”
Wales senior men’s team to play Scotland in the Guinness Six Nations, Saturday 3 February KO 4.45pm GMT. Live on BBC and S4C.
15. Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 54 caps)
13. Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 36 caps)
12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 32 caps)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 14 caps)
10. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 8 caps)
9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 74 caps);
1. Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby – 6 caps)
2. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 38 caps)
3. Leon Brown (Dragons – 23 caps)
4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 12 caps) Captain
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 51 caps)
6. James Botham (Cardiff Rugby – 9 caps)
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 13 caps)
8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 43 caps)
Replacements
16. Elliot Dee (Dragons – 46 caps)
17. Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – 1 cap)
18. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 2 caps)
19. Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 1 cap)
20. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped / heb gap)
21. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 53 caps)
22. Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets – 2 caps)
23. Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 6 caps)
