Sport news in brief
Wales select four uncapped players for Six Nations
Warren Gatland, head coach of Wales, has named four uncapped players in his squad for the Six Nations Championship. Ospreys centre Keiran Williams, Cardiff centre Mason Grady, Ospreys lock Rhys Davies and Cardiff second-row forward Teddy Williams have all been selected. The quartet are the only international rookies among a 37-man group, with Gatland’s second spell as Wales boss beginning against Ireland on 4 February.
Scarlets hooker Ken Owens has been appointed captain, being preferred to other candidates such as Justin Tipuric, Dan Biggar and Alun Wyn Jones. Elsewhere, there are recalls for 34-year-old Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb – who last played Test rugby in 2020 – Ospreys fly-half Owen Williams, Scarlets back Rhys Patchell, Cardiff prop Rhys Carre and Dragons back-row forward Aaron Wainwright. Gatland said: “It’s probably a bigger squad than I would normally name, but we want to have a good Six Nations and also look forward to the World Cup. We’ve some youngsters that have come in and then we’ve some older, very experienced players that we need to manage.”
Scotland have again taken advantage of world rugby’s recent change in eligibility rules to include English cap Ruaridh McConnochie in their Six Nations squad. In a similar move to the one that allowed Jack Dempsey to convert from Australia to Scotland earlier this season, Gregor Townsend has persuaded the 31-year-old Bath wing to pledge his allegiance to the nation of his father’s birth three and a half years after making two appearances – including one at the 2019 World Cup – for England.
There are three other uncapped players in Townsend’s 40-man squad. Munster stand-off Ben Healy, who will join Edinburgh in the summer, is Scottish-qualified through his mother and will provide back-up for Finn Russell at number 10. Glasgow centre Stafford McDowall and Leicester second-row Cameron Henderson are the other two included who are yet to feature for the national team. PA
Australian Open player denies faking Covid vax certificate
Italian player Camila Giorgi has denied obtaining a false Covid19 vaccination certificate in order to compete in tournaments. Italian media reported last month that a doctor, Daniela Grillone, had named Giorgi as one of the people who came to her seeking fake documentation.
Speaking for the first time about the allegations following a 6-0 6-1 victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the opening round
of the Australian Open, Giorgi insisted she had done nothing wrong. “The doctor has been investigated and she had troubles this year with the law a few times,” said the 31-year-old, who is ranked 70th.
“I did all my vaccination in different places. So the trouble is hers. Not me. So with that, I’m very calm. She (said) my name, of course, but there are more than 300 people for whom she gives the names.” PA
Brady to take decision over NFL future ‘one day at a time’
Tom Brady could retire from the NFL after suffering one of the worst playoff defeats of his career. Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell 31-14 to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night in the wild card round to end what has been an up-and-down season.
The 45-year-old, five-time Super Bowl MVP already retired once after last season only to return 40 days later. He said he’ll take more time to make his decision this time around. “It’ll be one day at a time, truly,” Brady said.
Brady waved his cap to the crowd as he jogged off the field for perhaps the final time and stopped to kiss his parents before heading into the tunnel. AP
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