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Williams replaces Halfpenny in Wales starting line-up

International | 2nd February 2023


Liam Williams has been called into the Wales starting line-up for Saturday's Guinness Six Nations opener against Ireland.

The Cardiff full back joins five of his club team-mates in the matchday 23, replacing Leigh Halfpenny who withdraws through a back injury injury.

81-cap Williams, who joined the Blue and Blacks last summer, immediately slots into the number 15 jersey and will line-up in the back three alongside fellow Cardiff star, Josh Adams, and Dragons’ Rio Dyer.

Tomos Williams and Taulupe Faletau are also included in Warren Gatland’s starting XV, with Rhys Carré and Dillon Lewis named amongst the replacements.

Wales senior men’s team to play Ireland in the Guinness Six Nations, Saturday 4 February KO 2.15pm GMT. Live on BBC and S4C:

15. Liam Williams (Cardiff Rugby - 81 caps)
14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 43 caps)
13. George North (Ospreys – 109 caps)
12. Joe Hawkins (Ospreys – 1 cap)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 3 caps)
10. Dan Biggar (Toulon – 103 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 40 caps)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 17 caps)
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets – 86 caps) captain
3. Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 67 caps)
4. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 41 caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 155 caps)
6. Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 6 caps)
7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys – 89 caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 95 caps)

Replacements
16. Scott Baldwin (Ospreys – 34 caps)
17. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 17 caps)
18. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 45 caps)
19. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 1 cap)
20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 4 caps)
21. Rhys Webb (Ospreys – 36 caps)
22. Owen Williams (Ospreys – 3 caps)
23. Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 55 caps)