Sam Warburton will captain Wales and is one of four Blues players named in the 32-man squad by Wales today for the forthcoming Six Nations title defence.
Led by captain Warburton (Cardiff Blues), the back-to-back champions will aim to become the first side to win the title outright three years in succession. He is joined by Arms Park team-mates Gethin Jenkins, Alex Cuthbert and Leigh Halfpenny.
The squad, which features 28 players who have been part of Championship winning squads, will meet up at the WRU National Centre of Excellence in the Vale of Glamorgan on Monday 20th January to prepare for their tournament opening clash against Italy at the Millennium Stadium.
The front-row features three British and Irish Lions in Richard Hibbard, Adam Jones (both Ospreys) and Jenkins (Cardiff Blues) alongside Scarlets quartet Ken Owen, Emyr Phillips, Rhodri Jones and Samson Lee. They are joined by Bath prop Paul James and Ospreys' Ryan Bevington.
The second-row includes Andrew Coombs (Newport Gwent Dragons), who made his debut in last season's competition along with fellow Championship winners Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan) and Ian Evans (Ospreys).
The back-row resources see Ospreys pair Justin Tipuric and Ryan Jones, Toby Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro) and Scarlets' Aaron Shingler named alongside skipper Warburton.
At half-back Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), who made his debut in the Dove Men Series is named along with Ospreys' Rhys Webb who returns to the International scene after injury and Racing Metro's Mike Phillips.
The Heineken Cup's top points scorer Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Scarlets fly-half Rhys Priestland and Perpignan's James Hook are named amongst 13 backs.
Five further British and Irish Lions are named with Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints) and Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues) joining Scarlets pair Scott Williams and Liam Williams.
WALES SQUAD 2014 RBS 6 NATIONS:
Forwards:
Paul James (Bath), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton Capt (Cardiff Blues), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets)
Backs:
Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), James Hook (Perpignan), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Liam Williams (Scarlets).