Former Blues and Chiefs flyhalf Gareth Anscombe has been included in Wales' Six Nations squad.

The 23-year-old, who qualifies for Wales through his Cardiff-born mother, has been steady rather than spectacular for the Cardiff Blues since joining the club last year, but has shown good distribution and option-taking and his kicking has been impressive in all departments.

His latest effort came as Cardiff annihilated Italian club Rovigo 104-12 in the European Challenge Cup.

Anscombe is one of four uncapped players in the squad along with Cardiff Blues hooker Kristian Dacey, Llanelli Scarlets prop Rob Evans, and Newport-Gwent Dragons centre Tyler Morgan.

Veteran prop Adam Jones is the headline absentee with fellow Cardiff Blues man Scott Andrews picked instead, while Gloucester flyhalf James Hook also misses out.

Wales squad: 

Forwards – Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Paul James (Bath), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), James King (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, Capt), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Backs – Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon).

Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images