Wales coach Warren Gatland recalls Leigh Halfpenny for Six Nations opener with Ireland

Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny will make his first Test match start for 19 months in Saturday's Six Nations opener against Ireland.

Halfpenny, who has won 97 caps, last featured in the starting line-up when Wales beat Canada in July 2021.

He is joined in the back three by Josh Adams and Rio Dyer, with George North partnered in midfield by Joe Hawkins, who wins his second cap.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has selected six Ospreys forwards along with skipper Ken Owens and No 8 Taulupe Faletau.

The Principality Stadium encounter kicks off Gatland’s second stint as Wales boss, with his previous reign between 2008 and 2019 yielding four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-finals.

More to follow...

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Josh Adams, George North, Joe Hawkins, Rio Dyer; Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens (capt), Tomas Francis; Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones; Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Rhys Carre, Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins, Tommy Reffell, Owen Williams, Alex Cuthbert.

Follow every game of the Guinness Six Nations on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app, or listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.

Watch live television coverage of Ireland v France (11 February), Italy v Ireland (25 February) and Scotland v Ireland (12 March) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.