2022 Six Nations Championship squads explained

The 2022 Six Nations Championship is the 23rd Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition contested by the national teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. England are the defending champions. There is no limit on the number of players each team may call up to play in the competition, and initial squad sizes ranged from 33 to 42.

Note: Number of caps and players' ages are indicated as of 5 February 2022 – the tournament's opening day. For players added to a squad during the tournament, their caps and age are indicated as of the date of their call-up.

England

England coach Eddie Jones named an initial 36-man squad for the tournament on 18 January 2022, including six uncapped players.[1]

Head coach: Eddie Jones

Call-ups

On 24 January, Jonny May withdrew from the squad due to injury and was replaced by Elliot Daly. In addition, George Ford was called up to replace Owen Farrell, who was ruled out of the tournament on 26 January.[2] Nick Isiekwe also joined the squad as injury cover for Courtney Lawes.[3]

On 30 January, Louis Lynagh and Adam Radwan were added to the squad.[4]

On 8 February, Joe Launchbury and Tom Pearson were called up to the squad, while Orlando Bailey was released.[5]

On 15 February, Manu Tuilagi joined up with the squad.[6]

On 1 March, Will Goodrick-Clarke and Lewis Ludlow were included in a fallow week training squad, before returning to their clubs.[7]

On 6 March, Nic Dolly, Alex Mitchell and Sam Underhill were recalled as part of a revised 36-man squad. Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jonny Hill, Lewis Ludlam, Raffi Quirke and Manu Tuilagi were all withdrawn due to injury, while Mark Atkinson, Tommy Freeman, Tom Pearson and Adam Radwan were also released back to their clubs.[8]

On 14 March, Tom Curry withdrew from the squad because of injury, and was replaced by Jack Willis.[9]

France

On 18 January 2022, France coach Fabien Galthié named a 42-man squad for the 2022 Six Nations Championship.[10]

Head coach: Fabien Galthié

Ireland

On 19 January 2022, Ireland coach Andy Farrell named a 37-man squad for the tournament, including two uncapped players. Flanker Cian Prendergast was also included as an additional development player, who would participate in the training camp.[11]

Head coach: Andy Farrell

Call-ups

On 7 February, Dave Heffernan replaced the injured Rónan Kelleher.[12]

On 21 February, James Lowe and Jimmy O'Brien were added to the squad.[13]

On 7 March, Jeremy Loughman was called up to the squad ahead of the final two rounds of the Championship.[14]

Italy

Italy named a 33-man squad for the tournament on 13 January 2022.[15]

Head coach: Kieran Crowley

Call-ups

On 24 January, Ange Capuozzo was added to the squad.[16]

On 31 January, Ion Neculai and Enrico Lucchin were added to the squad, with Lucchin initially replacing Luca Morisi due to injury.[17] [18]

On 7 February Andrea Zambonin joined the squad ahead of round 2.[19]

On 23 February Renato Giammarioli and Andrea Lovotti replace Fuser, Negri, Capuozzo, Da Re and Menoncello.[20]

Scotland

Scotland named a 39-man squad for the tournament on 19 January 2022, including five uncapped players.[21]

Head coach: Gregor Townsend

Call-ups

On 25 January, Sean Maitland was added to the squad after Kyle Rowe and Duhan van der Merwe were unable to report to the pre-tournament training camp due to illness.[22]

On 31 January, Jamie Bhatti withdrew from the squad due to injury and was replaced by Allan Dell.

On 21 February, Scotland announced an updated squad for their match against France, which included the new inclusions of Simon Berghan, James Lang, Oli Kebble, Ollie Smith and Marshall Sykes.[23]

On 7 March, Adam Hastings, Ross Thompson and Glen Young were called up to the squad whilst Marshall Sykes, Nick Haining, Oli Kebble, Ollie Smith, Rufus McLean withdrew after due to injury.

On 14 March, Fraser Brown, Murphy Walker, Scott Cummings and Jordan Edmunds were added to the squad ahead of Ireland whilst Kiran McDonald, Glen Young and Duhan van der Merwe returned to their clubs.

Wales

Wales named a 36-man squad for the tournament on 18 January 2022. Usual captain Alun Wyn Jones was ruled out of the start of the tournament, so fly-half Dan Biggar was named as his replacement. The squad included three uncapped players: hooker Dewi Lake, and back rowers Jac Morgan and James Ratti.[24]

Head coach: Wayne Pivac

Call-ups

On 21 February, Taulupe Faletau was called up to the squad after recovering from injury.[25]

On 6 March, Josh Navidi was called up to the squad with Ellis Jenkins being released back to his club.[26]

On 12 March, Alun Wyn Jones was called up to the squad following recovery from injury.[27]

Notes and References

  1. News: England Six Nations squad: Alfie Barbeary among six uncapped players . BBC Sport . 18 January 2022 . 28 January 2022 .
  2. News: England captain Owen Farrell to miss entire Six Nations . BBC Sport . 26 January 2022 . 28 January 2022 .
  3. Web site: EDDIE JONES UPDATES GUINNESS SIX NATIONS SQUAD . www.englandrugby.com.
  4. Web site: EDDIE JONES UPDATES SQUAD AHEAD OF SIX NATIONS . www.englandrugby.com.
  5. Web site: TEST TALK: ITALY v ENGLAND . www.englandrugby.com.
  6. Web site: ENGLAND SQUAD UPDATE: FALLOW WEEK . www.englandrugby.com.
  7. https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/six-nations-rugby-england-squad-update-fallow-week ENGLAND SQUAD UPDATE - FALLOW WEEK
  8. https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/six-nations-rugby-england-ireland-test-talk TEST TALK: ENGLAND V IRELAND
  9. https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/six-nations-rugby-england-france-test-talk TEST TALK: FRANCE V ENGLAND
  10. News: Le groupe pour le Tournoi des Six Nations 2022. France Rugby. 18 January 2022. 19 January 2022. French.
  11. News: Six Nations 2022: Uncapped backs Lowry and Hansen named in 37-man Ireland squad . BBC Sport . 19 January 2022 . 28 January 2022 .
  12. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60291289 Six Nations: Hooker Dave Heffernan replaces injured Rob Herring in Ireland camp
  13. https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/02/21/ireland-squad-assembles-for-italy-week-as-lowe-obrien-join-up/ Ireland Squad Assembles For Italy Week As Lowe & O’Brien Join Up
  14. https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/03/07/henderson-returns-to-ireland-squad-and-loughman-gets-first-call-up/ Henderson Returns To Ireland Squad And Loughman Gets First Call-up
  15. Web site: ITALRUGBY, GLI AZZURRI CONVOCATI PER L'ESORDIO AL GUINNESS SEI NAZIONI 2022. www.federugby.it.
  16. Web site: ITALRUGBY, CONVOCATO CAPUOZZO PER IL RADUNO DI VERONA. www.federugby.it.
  17. Web site: ITALRUGBY, CONVOCATO NECULAI PER IL RADUNO DI VERONA. www.federugby.it.
  18. Web site: ITALRUGBY, CONVOCATO LUCCHIN PER IL RADUNO VERSO L'ESORDIO AL GUINNESS SEI NAZIONI 2022. www.federugby.it.
  19. Web site: ITALRUGBY, CONVOCATO ZAMBONIN VERSO IL MATCH CONTRO L'INGHILTERRA. www.federugby.it.
  20. Web site: ITALRUGBY, GIAMMARIOLI E LOVOTTI SI AGGREGANO AL GRUPPO AZZURRO IN PREPARAZIONE DEL MATCH CONTRO L'IRLANDA. Federugby.it. 23 February 2022.
  21. News: Six Nations 2022: Scotland call up five uncapped players, Redpath returns . BBC Sport . 19 January 2022 . 28 January 2022 .
  22. https://twitter.com/Scotlandteam/status/1485960656876720135 Squad update: Sean Maitland has been called up to the squad
  23. Web site: Scotland squad update ahead of France match. Scottish Rugby Union. 21 February 2022 .
  24. News: Dan Biggar: Wales name Lions fly-half as captain for 2022 Six Nations . BBC Sport . 18 January 2022 . 28 January 2022 .
  25. Web site: Wales squad update - Welsh Rugby Union. February 21, 2022. Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
  26. https://www.wru.wales/2022/03/wales-mens-squad-update-2/ Josh Navidi called up
  27. https://www.wru.wales/2022/03/wales-mens-squad-update-3/ Wales squad update