Wales picked uncapped scrumhalf Richie Rees for this season’s Six Nations on Monday after Dwayne Peel was ruled out of the entire tournament because of a groin injury.
Cardiff Blues’ Rees, who is one of four new players in a 35-man squad, or the Scarlets’ Martin Roberts look set to start at No. 9 in Wales’ tournament opener at England on Feb. 6.
Peel joined first-choice scrumhalf Mike Phillips on the sidelines when he limped out of Sale Sharks’ Heineken Cup defeat by Cardiff on Saturday with a recurrence of the injury that affected his start to this season.
“Our first match at Twickenham could set the tone for the championship for both sides,” Wales coach Warren Gatland said. “We will both be desperate to win that first-up match.” Tom Prydie, Kristian Phillips and Rhys Gill are the other new players called up by Gatland.
“We are now at the beginning of our countdown to the world cup and this slightly larger squad reflects that,” Gatland said. “We have brought in some youngsters to put some pressure on some of our senior players and to help increase the depth we have in certain positions.” — - Wales squad: Backs: Dan Biggar, Andrew Bishop, Lee Byrne, Gareth Cooper, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, James Hook, Tom James, Stephen Jones, Kristian Phillips, Tom Prydie, Richie Rees, Jamie Roberts, Martin Roberts, Tom Shanklin, Shane Williams.
Forwards: Huw Bennett, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Rhys Gill, Ian Gough, Paul James, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Alun Wynn Jones, Deiniol Jones, Ryan Jones, Eifion Lewis-Roberts, Dan Lydiate, Andy Powell, Matthew Rees, Jonathan Thomas, Sam Warburton, Gareth Williams, Martyn Williams.
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