Ruddock anoints John Yapp

Uncapped Cardiff prop named in Wales squad

Wales coach Mike Ruddock has named one uncapped player - Cardiff Blues prop John Yapp - in his squad for this season's RBS Six Nations Championship.

Ruddock named a 30-man squad but left an additional front row vacancy that should be filled by eitherh Neath-Swansea Ospreys prop Duncan Jones who is currently recovering from a broken thumb or Llanelli Scarlets' Iestyn Thomas who is nursing a neck problem.

Despite the Blues' poor run of Heineken Cup and Celtic League results, Yapp has forced his way into the Wales reckoning, while there is also a recall for 21-times capped Dragons lock Ian Gough.

But Ruddock has predictably retained the players who served him well during the autumn Test programme, when Wales suffered agonising defeats against southern hemisphere giants South Africa and New Zealand.

Wales open their Six Nations campaign against world champions England at the Millennium Stadium on February 5.

"We have rewarded John Yapp and Ian Gough for impressing during the Heineken Cup competition," said Ruddock.

"Both of them have played well, and we want to send a message out that consistently playing well gets you in the squad.

"John is a young man with a big future. Despite his youth, he has been playing in the Blues team for two years, so has racked up some mileage on his playing clock.

"He has international size, he is a big physical lad and a good ball-carrier with a high tackle-count. He does the basics well, but he has really caught the eye with his engine and impressive work-rate."

Yapp, 21, will be joined in the squad by established names such as Colin Charvis, Robin McBryde, Gareth Llewellyn and Stephen Jones as Wales prepare for their Six Nations challenge.

"We believe this is an exciting squad representing traditional values of Welsh rugby, and based on the performances in the November internationals," Ruddock added.

"We have strength and experience up-front, and well-recognised talent, pace and skill behind.

"The management team just want to get hold of the players and get out on the training pitch at the moment. They are all due in on Sunday, and that's when the hard work starts."

Wales Squad:

Backs: Gareth Thomas (Toulouse, captain), Kevin Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Rhys Williams (Cardiff Blues), Shane Williams (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Hal Luscombe (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ton Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), Sonny Parker (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Gavin Henson (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Ceri Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), Stephen Jones (Clermont Auvergne), Dwayne Peel (Llanelli Scarlets), Gareth Cooper (Newport Gwent Dragons), Mike Phillips (Llanelli Scarlets).

Forwards: Alun Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), A N Other, John Yapp (Cardiff Blues), Mefin Davies (Gloucester), Robin McBryde (Llanelli Scarlets), Steve Jones (Newport Gwent Dragons), Brent Cockbain (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Gareth Llewellyn (Narbonne), Robert Sidoli (Cardiff Blues), Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ian Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dafydd Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Jonathan Thomas (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Colin Charvis (Newcastle), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Michael Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ryan Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys).