Six Nations 2019: Wales name squad but are hit by Taulupe Faletau injury

Wales No.8 Taulupe Faletau could miss the whole of the 2019 Six Nations rugby championship because of a broken arm.

The Bath star fractured his forearm in October and on his return on Saturday he suffered another break, the BBC reports.

Now set for up to eight weeks on the sidelines, the 28-year-old back only has a “slim chance” of playing in the final round of matches.

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Wales start their Six Nations campaign with a trip to Paris to face France on 1 February before playing Italy at the Stadio Olimpico on 9 February, England in Cardiff on 23 February, Scotland at Murrayfield on 9 March and at home against Ireland on 16 March.

Gatland’s squad revealed

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has picked a 39-man squad for the 2019 Six Nations.

Faletau misses out while flankers James Davies, Ellis Jenkins and Aaron Shingler are also not included because of injury.

However, Gatland has included Leigh Halfpenny and Ross Moriarty despite the duo currently being sidelined because of concussion.

Alun Wyn Jones will captain the Welsh side and there are also recalls for Thomas Young, Josh Turnbull, Josh Navidi and Scott Williams.

Gatland, who steps down as Wales coach after this year’s Rugby World Cup, told the BBC: “We have a really experienced squad of players, who have been around a number of campaigns together and we feel we are in a pretty good place going into this huge year.

Gatland’s 39-man Six Nations squad

• Forwards: Rob Evans (Scarlets), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Leon Brown (Dragons), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (captain, Ospreys) Ross Moriarty (Dragons), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Josh Turnbull (Cardiff Blues), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Thomas Young (Wasps)
• Backs: Aled Davies (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Dan Biggar (Northampton), Jarrod Evans (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Scott Williams (Ospreys), Josh Adams (Worcester), Hallam Amos (Dragons), Steffan Evans (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), Jonah Holmes (Leicester), George North (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Saracens)

2019 Six Nations fixtures and TV guide

Round one

• 1 February: France vs. Wales (8pm, live on BBC)
• 2 February: Scotland vs. Italy (2.15pm, live on BBC); Ireland vs. England (4.45pm, live on ITV)

Round two

• 9 February: Scotland vs. Ireland (2.15pm, live on BBC); Italy vs. Wales (4.45pm, live on ITV)
• 10 February: England vs. France (3pm, live on ITV)

Round three

• 23 February: France vs. Scotland (2.15pm, live on BBC); Wales vs. England (4.45pm, live on BBC)
• 24 February: Italy vs. Ireland (3pm, live on ITV)

Round four

• 9 March: Scotland vs. Wales (2.15pm, live on BBC); England vs. Italy (3pm, live on ITV)
• 10 March: Ireland vs. France (4.45pm, live on ITV)

Round five

• 16 March: Italy vs. France (12.30pm, live on ITV); Wales vs. Ireland (2.45pm, live on BBC)
• 17 March: England vs. Scotland (5pm, live on BBC)