Six Nations 2022: Wales make four changes to face France

Wales have brought in Cardiff duo Seb Davies and Josh Navidi in a back row reshuffle for the Six Nations to face France in Cardiff on Friday.

Davies is normally a lock, while Navidi has just been called up the squad after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Centre Jonathan Davies is also included for concussion victim Nick Tompkins, while prop Gareth Thomas also starts.

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has included prop Tomas Francis, who suffered a head injury against England.

Centre Owen Watkin and Josh Adams have also recovered from head knocks suffered in the 23-19 defeat at Twickenham.

Wales had been warned against picking Francis after the Ospreys prop collided with Watkin during the England game.

Television footage showed Francis staggering following a clash of heads, and he also appeared to lean on the post pads for support.

The 29-year-old was removed from the pitch for a head injury assessment that he passed, before returning and playing until the 56th minute.

Player welfare lobby group Progressive Rugby wrote an open letter to World Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and the Six Nations last week expressing its concern over the episode, which is currently being reviewed by Six Nations Rugby.

Professor John Fairclough, a leading surgeon who has previously worked with the WRU, said he felt it would be «a grave mistake» if Wales selected Francis and that he would be at «unnecessary risk of serious harm».

A WRU statement said: «Tomas Francis and Josh Adams have been managed clinically by Wales medical personnel in following all of the required return-to-play protocols, as specified in the World Rugby regulations.

»Having suffered no adverse reactions and no complications in successfully completing each stage of the