Pivac prevented from calling up Priestland
WAYNE PIVAC says he was blocked from selecting Rhys Priestland for Wales’ Six Nations squad.
Head coach Pivac asked his Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) bosses for special dispensation to select Bath flyhalf Priestland, who does not meet the 60-cap threshold for a player based outside Wales.
The 34-year-old is expected to return to Wales with Cardiff Blues next term, but Pivac was still barred from including the 50-cap playmaker.
Wales are due to open their Six Nations campaign at home against Ireland on Sunday, February 7.
ENGLAND’S preparations for the Six Nations have been thrown into disarray after head coach Eddie Jones was forced to isolate for 10 days following coach Matt Proudfoot’s positive Covid-19 test.
Jones and attack coach Simon Amor have both been identified as close contacts of Proudfoot, who is not displaying any symptoms. The tests were carried out as part of England’s testing regime.
Jones will announce a 28-man squad for the tournament tomorrow with players meeting for the first time at St George’s Park the following Wednesday.
Subject to negative tests, Jones and Amor will be allowed to commence coaching on Thursday ahead of their first game against Scotland at Twickenham on February 6.
It is understood that Proudfoot will be allowed to link up with the team on January 29. That leaves defence coach John Mitchell as the only full-time member of the coaching team who would be able to meet the players on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, England announced that Ed Robinson, son of former England coach Andy, will be joining Jones’s backroom staff after skills coach Jason Ryles decided to remain in Australia for the Six Nations.
Injured
Elsewhere, Finn Russell returns to the Scotland squad for the 2021 tournament after the fly-half injured himself against Wales last November and missed the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup. He is included in Gregor Towsend’s 35-man group.
Players who could potentially make their Scotland debuts include Edinburgh hooker David Cherry, Sale hooker Ewan Ashman, Gloucester forward Alex Craig and Bath centre Cameron Redpath.
In Wales, Wayne Pivac has named Cardiff Blues fly-half Jarrod Evans in Wales’ Six Nations squad, resisting the temptation to recall Bath playmaker Rhys Priestland.
Scarlets’ Josh MacLeod is the sole uncapped player in head coach Pivac’s 36-man squad for the Six Nations, with senior men Ken Owens, Alun Wyn Jones and Josh Navidi selected after injury fears. (© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2021)
SCOTLAND SIX NATIONS SQUAD – Forwards: Ewan Ashman, Simon Berghan, David Cherry, Alex Craig, Scott Cummings, Allan Dell, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Gary Graham, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Oli Kebble, Willem Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Grant Stewart, Rory Sutherland, Blade Thomson, George Turner, Hamish Watson. Backs:
Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Stuart Hogg, Huw Jones, Blair Kinghorn, James Lang, Sean Maitland, Byron McGuigan, Ali Price, Cameron Redpath, Finn Russell, Scott Steele, Duncan Taylor, Jaco van der Walt, Duhan van der Merwe.
WALES – Forwards: Rhys Carre, Wyn Jones, Rhodri Jones, Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias, Ken Owens, Leon Brown, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Jake Ball, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Will Rowlands, Cory Hill, Dan Lydiate, Josh Navidi, Aaron Wainwright, Taulupe Faletau, Josh MacLeod, Justin Tipuric. Backs: Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Kieran Hardy, Dan Biggar, Callum Sheedy, Jarrod Evans, Johnny Williams, Jonathan Davies, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, George North, Josh Adams, Hallam Amos, Louis ReesZammit, Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams.