Six Nations: Front-rows Evan Lloyd, Henry Thomas in for first Wales starts for opener in France

Six Nations: Front-rows Evan Lloyd, Henry Thomas in for first Wales starts for opener in France

Prop Henry Thomas and hooker Evan Lloyd have both been included for their first Test starts in Wales' Six Nations side to take on France in Paris on Friday.

Head coach Warren Gatland has sprung a surprise in naming such an inexperienced front-row for the tournament's opener at the Stade de France, with 33-year-old tighthead Thomas having made four cameos for Wales in 2023, while 23-year-old hooker Lloyd came off the bench five times last year.

Thomas previously picked up seven Test caps for England - all as a replacement - between 2013 and 2014, redeclaring for Wales in 2023 after easily exceeding the stand-down period of three years.

Gatland does welcome back experience elsewhere in the shape of full-back Liam Williams, centre Nick Tompkins and wing Josh Adams.

Cardiff centre Ben Thomas has again been reverted to fly-half by Gatland, who played him at No 10 last summer on the tour to Australia before starting him at inside-centre against Fiji, Australia and South Africa in November.

Jac Morgan captains the side from openside flanker in a back-row unit formed with James Botham and Aaron Wainwright, as Taulupe Faletau is left out of the squad entirely.

Elsewhere, second row and previous captain Dafydd Jenkins returns to the side after a spell out with knee and shoulder injuries, while uncapped fly-half Dan Edwards is among the replacements.

"We're excited for the challenge on Friday," Gatland said. "The Six Nations in the best rugby competition in the world.

"Every game is a big occasion. We want to go out there, embrace that and start our championship well."

Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Ben Thomas, 9 Tomos Williams; 1 Gareth Thomas, 2 Evan Lloyd, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Will Rowlands, 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 6 James Botham, 7 Jac Morgan (c), 8 Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Dan Edwards, 23 Blair Murray

France will be without flying wing Damian Penaud for their Six Nations clash against Wales, adding to a list of key players unavailable for the tournament opener at the Stade de France.

Penaud had been expected to return to the team but suffered a toe injury in training, meaning 20-year-old Theo Attissogbe will line up on the wing instead.

France are already without centre Gael Fickou, lock Thibaud Flament and loose forward Charles Ollivon, with coach Fabien Galthie making five changes from their last outing in November when they beat Argentina 37-23 in Paris.

Romain Ntamack is back at fly-half, which pushes Thomas Ramos to full-back in place of Leo Barre. Pierre-Louis Barassi replaces Fickou in the midfield.

Former captain Gregory Alldritt returns to the back of the pack in place of Ollivon after being dropped ahead of the win over Argentina, while Alexandre Roumat is into the second row for Flament.

On the bench, Galthie has included Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, who debuted in Argentina last year but were then arrested on rape charges that were later dropped.

France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Pierre Louis Barassi, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c); 1 Jean Baptiste Gros, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Alexandre Roumat, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 6 Francois Cros, 7 Paul Boudehent, 8 Gregory Alldritt

Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Georges Henri Colombe, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Mickel Guillard, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Emilien Gailleton

Wales' championship schedule:

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