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Wales boss Wayne Pivac has hailed Gloucester wing Louis Rees-Zammit as \u201ca great finisher\u201d after handing the 18-year-old a Six Nations call-up.<\/p>\nWales boss Wayne Pivac has hailed Gloucester wing Louis Rees-Zammit as \u201ca great finisher\u201d after handing the 18-year-old a Six Nations call-up.<\/p>\n
Rees-Zammit, who has scored nine tries in 10 games this season, is among five uncapped players in Pivac\u2019s 38-man squad.<\/p>\n
He is joined by fellow international rookies Nick Tompkins, Johnny McNicholl, WillGriff John and Will Rowlands as Wales build towards a Six Nations opener against Italy on February 1.<\/p>\n
Whether Rees-Zammit makes the starting line-up or bench \u2013 he would join an elite club of 18-year-olds to play for Wales like George North and Tom Prydie \u2013 remains to be seen.<\/p>\n
But Pivac is a fan of his blistering ability that has torn up the Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup this term.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am always a great believer that if you are good enough, you are old enough, and he is showing signs he\u2019s maturing as a rugby player at a very young age,\u201d Pivac said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got gas, which at the top level of the game you can\u2019t beat, and he is a great finisher.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not the finished product, as he knows and we know, but it will be great to get him in the environment and start to work with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
England are believed to have shown interest in Rees-Zammit, but Pivac dismissed that as having any bearing on his Wales selection.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot at all,\u201d he added. \u201cYou only have to look at his social media page. He\u2019s got a big Welsh flag there.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s Welsh through and through. Having spoken to him, he\u2019s over the moon. He loves playing rugby.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rees-Zammit is among 10 English-based players in Pivac\u2019s group, along with the likes of Saracens center Tompkins, Sale Sharks prop John and Wasps lock Rowlands.<\/p>\n
There is also a recall for Toulon scrum-half Rhys Webb, who last played Test rugby just over two years ago.<\/p>\n
By joining Toulon, he ruled himself out of Wales contention because he did not meet the minimum 60-cap selection criteria for players plying their trade outside the country.<\/p>\n
Toulon recently agreed to Webb\u2019s early release from his contract for family reasons, and he will rejoin the Ospreys next term.<\/p>\n
He was originally eligible for Wales again from July 1, but the Welsh Rugby Union announced that Wales\u2019 Professional Rugby Board (PRB) had agreed to an application from Webb for a six-month dispensation, during which time Pivac can consider him.<\/p>\n
Tompkins, 24, represented England Saxons in 2016 and is an England Under-20 World Cup winner, but he qualifies for Wales through his Wrexham-born grandmother.<\/p>\n
Despite Tompkins playing for the Saxons, he was not \u2018captured\u2019 by England because their opposition \u2013 South Africa A \u2013 were not South Africa\u2019s officially recognized international second team at that time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI took notice when he carved the Scarlets up in the Champions Cup when he was about 20,\u201d Pivac said, of Tompkins.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found out he was eligible afterwards. I\u2019ve been watching his career ever since, to be quite honest. He has gone very well.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a young fella who has come through and is really confident in his game at the moment. He\u2019s at a great club and has come on a long way in a short space of time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe think he\u2019s ready for this level of the game. He has always known he\u2019s been able to go either way (select Wales or England).<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been living in England and gone through the age-group. But in terms of committing to a national team, he\u2019s made that commitment and we are very pleased.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, fit-again Bath number eight Taulupe Faletau \u2013 who missed the World Cup due to a collarbone injury \u2013 is back, along with recalled Gloucester back Owen Williams, but there are no places for props Nicky Smith and Samson Lee.<\/p>\n