Wales call up South African Pretorius

South Africa-born forward Andries Pretorius has been named in the Wales squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

The 27-year-old Cardiff Blues back-row forward is among five uncapped players in a 35-man group by Wales interim head coach Rob Howley. Pretorius, born in Nelspruit, qualifies on residency for Wales and became available for selection last month. He is joined in the squad by his Blues back-row colleague Josh Navidi, Ospreys wing Eli Walker and lock James King, plus Newport Gwent Dragons second-row forward Andrew Coombs.

Wales have been badly hit in the second-row department, with Alun-Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris and Bradley Davies currently unavailable and not named in his initial Six Nations squad. Fly-half Rhys Priestland and prop Aaron Jarvis, meanwhile, are also injury absentees as Wales build towards the opening game of their title defence against Ireland on February 2.