Wales coach Warren Gatland has named his 37-player squad for the 2023 Six Nations in his first selection since returning to the Welsh rugby hot-seat, with experienced heads and youthful faces all in the mix.
Ken Owens has been named as captain for this year's campaign, while Dan Biggar, Liam Williams and 37-year-old Alun Wyn Jones also made the cut. Six players, including Rhys Carre, Aaron Wainwright and Rhys Webb, have been recalled to the squad, while Gatland has also included four uncapped players.
Highly-rated centre duo Keiran Williams and Mason Grady are both involved, while there are also Wales debuts awaiting locks Rhys Davies and Teddy Williams. You can read Gatland's squad announcement in full here.
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For 22-year-old Teddy Williams, his inclusion in the squad caps a meteoric rise, having only signed his first professional contract with Cardiff in September 2020.
The 6ft 6in lock has gone on to make 20 appearances for the Blue and Blacks, impressing with his athletic performances in the URC and on the European stage, while he caught the eye of many inside Cardiff Arms Park when he crossed for the match-winning try - the first of his senior career - in a Rainbow Cup derby against Dragons in 2021.
The third of four brothers, all of whom played rugby, Williams began playing at CRICC Caerdydd before becoming part of the Cardiff Schools system, first playing at Under- 11s and then Under-15 level. The former Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr pupil then moved to Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf for sixth form, where he played alongside current Cardiff teammates Theo Cabango and Mason Grady.
From there, he progressed to Cardiff Rugby's academy, winning seven caps for Wales Under-20s while juggling his rugby career with his civil engineering studies at Cardiff University.
It is unsurprising that Williams has come so far already, with the game always in his blood. With his fine performances, the young second row has followed in the footsteps of his father, former Wales and Cardiff back rower Owain Williams, who sadly passed away in 2021 at the age of 56.
The former international, who also represented Glamorgan Wanderers and Bridgend, died following a long battle with cancer, leaving the rugby world in mourning.
His death came three years after his brother and former Wales and Lions star Gareth Williams passed away aged 63 after being diagnosed with incurable condition Multiple System Atrophy.
The young man showed his character and maturity by turning out for Cardiff RFC just days after his dad's funeral as he lined up against Ponty for his first outing of the 2021/22 season, and he continues to honour his father every time he pulls on the Blue and Black jersey, revealing in a recent interview that he writes 'Dad' onto his wrist strapping ahead of every game.
“I wouldn’t say it drives me," said Williams, as he opened up about his later father in an interview with his club. "I just know how much my dad used to love watching any of us play. He used to be at all the games, and he would have loved to have seen some of the games we’ve had down here recently.
“Looking back over the last year, to the Stormers game when I came on or when we beat Leinster last season, those stand out matches I just know he would have loved them. I probably didn’t realise how highly held Dad is at Cardiff. You probably take it a little bit for granted that he was a rugby player but he was also just Dad.”
While he has been tipped to have a bright future in rugby, Williams' call-up to Wales' Six Nations squad may come as a surprise to some, having gone from a relative unknown to potential international in less than two years. He only made his first start for Cardiff this season two days before being named in Gatland's 37-man squad, putting in a superb performance in a bonus point win over Newcastle Falcons.
Which uncapped player are you most excited to see? You can vote here too
But the new Wales coach has been impressed by the rising star, handing him an opportunity to prove himself at the highest level ahead of this year's World Cup as he looks to strengthen Wales' second row options.
"Teddy can come in and see what he can bring to the squad," said Gatland following his squad announcement. "It’s a position we need to develop some depth in. I think the challenge is balancing the older players who have been part of the squad with the younger players.
"How many changes do you make? We need to give those youngsters opportunities leading into the World Cup. It’s a balancing act. I think that’s reflected in the squad. There’s experienced players that we want to be a part of it, but there’s a lot of players who haven’t got many caps behind their name who need more experience.
"We’ve seen teams arrive at World Cups in the past with older squads and then you pick up some injuries," he added. "All of a sudden, you’re throwing in inexperienced players. That’s part of our thinking. It’s important that we do well in the Six Nations, but we have to think about the next 10 months as well."
Williams said he was "shocked" to be included in the squad, but added that is was a "very proud moment" for him and his family as he was selected alongside Cardiff teammate Grady.
"[It's] a bit of a surprise to be honest," he said after the news broke. "I've just been concentrating on trying to get as many games for Cardiff as I can really but it's come as a real surprise.
"I'm obviously chuffed, it's a very proud moment for me and my family and I'm looking forward to getting started. It's brilliant for Mason as well, and I'm sure he's feeling exactly the same."
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