Gatland says Anscombe still has Wales future

Wales head coach Warren Gatland says Gareth Anscombe still has an international future despite the fly-half being dropped for the 2025 Six Nations.

With the injured Sam Costelow ruled out, Gatland has named uncapped Dan Edwards and Cardiff's Ben Thomas, who primarily plays at centre, as the two fly-half options in his 34-man squad.

When asked whether Anscombe will struggle to play for Wales again, Gatland responded: "No, I don't think so.

"We will pick up injuries at some stage and we know we've got that experience to come in."

Anscombe, 33, has been left out while full-back Liam Williams, 33, and number eight Taulupe Faletau, 34, have been recalled to the squad.

Gatland stated he thought the Gloucester fly-half might not make the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

"We've spoken about 10 as being the position to develop some strength in depth over the next couple of years, looking short term and long term," said Gatland.

"We know Gareth has a lot of experience. One of the things we talked about is he'll be 36 by the next World Cup, so will he be around? We need to develop some options and experience.

"It's definitely a position of concern and losing someone like Sam Costelow as well probably didn't help.

"Someone like Dan gets that opportunity to put his hand up and hopefully we can support him and he can go and make the most of it."

Anscombe joined Gloucester this season after recovering from a long-term groin injury.

"He hasn't been doing the kicking duties at Gloucester in terms of kick-offs, kicking for touch or taking goals," said Gatland.

"Over the last couple of campaigns he hasn't been able to handle that load with the kicking stuff.

"I'm sure he would have been able to do that and we know how experienced he is."

Anscombe's Gloucester team-mate Max Llewellyn has also been omitted despite being the top try scorer in the English Premiership and starting Wales' three autumn defeats.

"He has been pretty unlucky," said Gatland.

"For us, there's a lot of quality 12s around. It's probably 13 which is the one position we haven't got depth apart from Joe [Roberts]."

Centres Thomas, Owen Watkin, Nick Tompkins, Joe Roberts, Eddie James have been preferred as midfield options.

Gatland says Wales have spoken to Llewellyn about what more he could have done.

"There's probably an opportunity to get more touches and get his hands on the ball," said Gatland.

"He didn't have any touches against South Africa, I know we didn't have a lot of ball in that game.

"He's just got to continue doing what he's doing. There was a long discussion around midfield and the make-up of that, trying to get some experience in there around some youngsters.

"It was trying to get a real balance in the team."