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Last Updated: Wednesday, 19 January, 2005, 13:13 GMT
Yapp wins Wales Six Nations call
John Yapp
Blues prop John Yapp is the only uncapped player in Wales' 31-man squad for the forthcoming RBS Six Nations.

The 21-year-old, 6ft 2in loose-head replaces the Ospreys' Duncan Jones, out until March with a broken thumb.

Lock Ian Gough is back after impressing for the Dragons, and hooker Robin McBryde returns after a neck injury.

A place is left for prop Iestyn Thomas who has a neck problem, whilst flanker Colin Charvis is expected to shake off an ankle injury to face England.

Ospreys loose-head prop Paul James will also join up with the squad next week for Wales coach Mike Ruddock to monitor his progress.

Charvis has met Wales physio Mark Davies to determine the extent of the damage he did to the ankle whilst playing in Newcastle's Heineken Cup win over the Dragons last Sunday.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock said he believes the 75-capped flanker will recover in time for the 5 February opener provided he is given sufficient rest.

It looks as if those players in France will be returned to France to play, and probably the same in England
Wales coach Mike Ruddock

"He's struggling to be fit for training next week and he shouldn't play a game for Newcastle a week before the Test against England," Ruddock told BBC Wales Sport.

"He should be fine for the England match if that sort of right treatment is provided."

Ruddock's preparations for the opening match have also been disrupted after a plea for help from French clubs fell on death ears.

He wanted captain Gareth Thomas (Toulouse), Stephen Jones (Clermont Auvergne) and Gareth Llewellyn (Narbonne) to miss club matches on Saturday, 28 January.

A similar request had been made to Newcastle for Charvis and to Gloucester in respect of hooker Mefin Davies.

But Ruddock revealed: "It looks as if those players in France will be returned to France to play, and probably the same in England; although that hasn't been finalised yet.

"Rob Andrew [Newcastle coach] has said he wants Charvis to play, but that's a slightly different matter because he's carrying an injury.

"But what this tells me and the young players in Wales is that going away from Wales will create a problem."

The Welsh regions have agreed not to select their Wales squad players for their Celtic League fixtures the weekend prior to the England game.

Ruddock will assemble his squad - including the exiled players - on 23 January for the first training session.


Wales' Six Nations squad:

Backs: G Thomas (Toulouse, capt), K Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), R Williams (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), H Luscombe (Newport Gwent Dragons), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), S Parker (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), G Henson (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), C Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), Stephen Jones (Clermont Auvergne), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets), G Cooper (Newport Gwent Dragons), M Phillips (Llanelli Scarlets).

Forwards: A Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), A N Other, J Yapp (Cardiff Blues), M Davies (Gloucester), R McBryde (Llanelli Scarlets), Steve Jones (Newport Gwent Dragons), B Cockbain (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), G Llewellyn (Narbonne), R Sidoli (Cardiff Blues), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), I Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), D Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), J Thomas (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), C Charvis (Newcastle), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), M Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons), R Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), R Pugh (Neath-Swansea Ospreys, late addition to the squad).

*P James (Neath-Swansea Ospreys) and R Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff Blues) have also been training with the squad




WATCH AND LISTEN
Interview: Wales rugby union coach Mike Ruddock



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