21-year-old Dafydd Jenkins has been handed the Wales captaincy as Warren Gatland named five uncapped players in his Six Nations squad.
The announcement was overshadowed by the shock news that Louis Rees-Zammit is heading to the National Football League (NFL) to pursue a career in American football.
In his absence, fellow back three player Cameron Winnett is one of five uncapped players in the squad alongside Cardiff teammates Evan Lloyd, Alex Mann and Mackenzie Martin and Bath prop Archie Griffin.
Gatland said: “There’s a little bit of experience in terms of players like George North and Gareth Davies – we wanted a little bit of continuity with that and we’re also thinking about the next RWC cycle and giving some youngsters an opportunity, some youngsters that are not featuring regularly for their club sides.
“I’m really excited about those youngsters and that opportunity to develop them over the next four years. The average age of the squad is about 25 compared to a little bit older during RWC and then you look at this next cycle and you want to get those players to mid to late 20s in terms of experience and age.”
Jenkins has been named skipper just six weeks after his 21st birthday, and is set to become the youngest Wales captain since Gareth Edwards and second youngest of all time only behind the great scrum-half.
He has earned the role in the absence of World Cup co-captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake, who along with Taulupe Faletau and Christ Tshiunza are key forwards who will be unavailable for the tournament due to injury.
On Jenkins’ captaincy, Gatland added: “We’ve been incredibly impressed with Daf in terms of his professionalism and how he prepares.
“It’s a great opportunity for Daf, he’s captained Exeter on a number of occasions, he’s a well-respected member of the squad.
“I rang and spoke to him and he was absolutely delighted to accept the role and I’m sure that he’ll do a great job and get a huge amount of support from the rest of the squad.”
Wales Squad
Backs: G Davies (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff), K Hardy (Scarlets), S Costelow (Scarlets), I Lloyd (Scarlets), C Evans (Dragons), N Tompkins (Saracens), O Watkin (Ospreys), G North (Ospreys), M Grady (Cardiff), J Roberts (Scarlets), J Adams (Cardiff), R Dyer (Dragons), C Winnett (Cardiff), T Rogers (Scarlets).
Forwards: G Thomas (Ospreys), C Domachowski (Cardiff), K Mathias (Scarlets), R Elias (Scarlets), E Dee (Dragons), E Lloyd (Cardiff), K Assiratti (Cardiff), A Griffin (Bath), L Brown (Dragons), W Rowlands (Racing 92), A Beard (Ospreys), D Jenkins (Exeter, capt), Teddy Williams (Cardiff), A Wainwright (Dragons), T Reffell (Leicester), A Mann (Cardiff), J Botham (Cardiff), M Martin (Cardiff), T Basham (Dragons).
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