The 31 players who could make their test debut during the Six Nations

The 2022 Six Nations kicks off next weekend, with the new year bringing new players who will look to make their mark on the test arena.

Defending Champions Wales have included three uncapped players in their squad ahead of the opening round - all in the pack.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has included two uncapped players in his extended squad - both in the backs - with Connacht back-rower Cian Prendergast added as a development player.

Six players are in line for a potential England debut, with Eddie Jones splitting the debutants 4-2 in favour of the backs.

Fabien Galthie original included seven uncapped players in his initial squad, but that number has since grown to 11 following injuries and COVID-19 cases. Seven uncapped forwards have been included, along with four uncapped backs.

As for Italy, Kieran Crowley initially named six uncapped players in his squad before adding another more recently. Crowley has spilt his uncapped players 4-3 in favour of the backs. Finally, Gregor Townsend has included five uncapped players - two in the pack, three in the backs. 

Uncapped front rowers:

Of the 31 players currently in line to make their Test debuts during the Six Nations, just three are front-rowers.

England's Alfie Barbeary could push the number to four, but the powerful youngster has played most of his senior rugby in the back-rower.

20-year-old loosehead prop Daniel Bibi Biziwu is the only uncapped front-rower in the France squad. Last November, he made his senior debut for Clermont and has played just 512 minutes of senior rugby. Last year, he was part of the France u20s squad and more recently, he played in Clermont's Champions Cup fixtures against Ulster and Sale Sharks.

Wayne Pivac looks set to cap another hooker with Ken Owens sidelined for the defending Champions. A u20s representative in 2018, Dewi Lake could make his senior debut in the Six Nations after four appearances for Ospreys this season.

Finally, Kieran Crowley could also cap a new hooker in Benetton's Giacomo Nicotera. The 25-year-old has played just seven games for Benetton before his call up.

Uncapped second rowers:

Three second-rowers could earn their first caps for Les Bleus this Six Nations with Montpellier's Florian Verhaeghe, Castres' Florent Vanverberghe, and La Rochelle's Thomas Lavault in Galthie's squad.

Vanverberghe has scored two tries for Castres in his 16 appearances for the Club. He has been a regular fixture missing just two games this season and has continually improved since his move from Toulon.

Florian Verhaeghe joins his club lock partner Paul Willemse in the squad. The 24-year-old has been a regular starter for Montpellier this season and is known for his high work rate, particularly on defence.

This season, Thomas Lavault has been a consistent performer for La Rochelle, featuring in every single one of the Club's fixtures. Despite being just 22, he already has over 50 caps for La Rochelle, playing an impressive 27 of the 34 games last season.

Cardiff's James Ratti has been rewarded with a call up to the Wales squad, and although he has played numerous times in the back row for the Welsh region recently, he is primarily a second-rower. His versatility will be a big asset to Wayne Pivac, and his call up is reward for his performances.

Uncapped back rowers:

There is no shortage of exciting loose forwards that could make their Test debuts during the 2022 Six Nations.

Ospreys' turnover merchant Jac Morgan is finally rewarded with a call up to the test team. Meanwhile, Italy has the likes of Manuel Zuliani, and Toa Halafihi primed to make their test bows. Halafihi's debut is particularly promising for the Italians after his stellar form with Benetton and the injury absence of Jake Polledri.

Rory Darge has recently been the talk of Scottish Rugby, having delivered standout performances for Glasgow Warriors. He could debut along with fellow countryman Andy Christie who has been similarly brilliant for Saracens. Gregor Townsend has plenty of depth in his loose trio, with openside Darge and blindside Christie furthering that depth.

25-year-old back-rower Yoan Tanga joins the long list of promising talents primed to make their debut for Les Bleus during this tournament. The Racing 92 forward is a great ball carrier and is just as effective on defence. He is a well-rounded player with his handling skills leading to three try assists this season.

La Rochelle's 22-year-old back-rower Paul Boudehent gives Fabien Galthie an abrasive option in his loose trio. He has been in stellar form for his club this season and could debut, having missed out on u20 representation due to injury in 2019.

Lastly, Wasps' Alfie Barbeary could finally make his test debut for England after an injury denied him in 2020. The 21-year-old has been widely tipped for higher honours since his schoolboy days and seamlessly made the step up to senior rugby. He showed just how destructive and effective he could be against Toulouse in the Champions Cup, scoring a try and forcing two turnovers in a man of the match performance.

Uncapped halfbacks:

England, France and Italy have all included an uncapped flyhalf in their respective squads ahead of the competition.

Orlando Bailey has been added to the squad, having impressed at u20 level and has kept Danny Cipriani out of the Bath starting XV.

Lyon's Leo Berdeu is one of the form flyhalves in the TOP 14 and rewarded with a first test call up. The 25-year-old is the leading points scorer in the TOP 14 and has kept the experienced All Blacks flyhalf Lima Sopoaga out of the starting team at the French Club.

19-year-old pivot Leonardo Marin continues his rise in Italian rugby with a test call up. Benetton are four wins from eight games in the United Rugby Championship, with the youngster coming to the side's rescue against Edinburgh and Glasgow slotting the winning points in both fixtures.

A fellow Benetton halfback could also make his debut for Italy, with Marin's clubmate Giacomo Da Re also named in the squad. This season, Da Re hasn't featured for the club and is a somewhat surprising inclusion.

Scotland has two scrum-halves in line for debuts, with London Irish's Ben White and Edinburgh's Ben Vellacott named in Gregor Townsend's squad. Vellacott is a livewire halfback who has been superb for Edinburgh this season. He has cemented his position in the starting XV since joining from Wasps playing ten games this season, scoring four tries and assisting three. Ben White has had similar success leaving Leicester Tigers for London Irish. He has played 13 of the Exiles' 14 games scoring three tries. Like Vellacott, White is an exciting running halfback with an excellent kicking game. At 23 years old, he still has plenty of time to develop his skills further.

Leo Coly is perhaps the most surprising call up of the lot. The 22-year-old represented France at u20 level in 2019 but has since plied his trade in the PROD2, France's second division, with Mont-de-Marsan. He is the PROD2's top scorer with 210 points, including nine tries making him the competition's joint-leading try-scorer. It is not the first time Galthie has dived into the second division for talent, with Melvyn Jaminet providing a successful example last season.

Uncapped centres

Two Frenchman could make their debuts in the midfield during this Six Nations.

Clermont's rampaging inside centre Tani Vili maintains his place in the squad and could finally earn his first cap, spending time with the team last July and November. He has scored a tidy three tries in 13 appearances, with his abrasive approach to the game his biggest selling point.

La Rochelle's Jules Favre could make his debut as well. Adapt at inside and outside centre, Favre has scored an impressive seven tries in 13 games for Ronan O'Gara's side and has been a solid defensive presence.

Centre Luke Northmore looks set to follow the same path as Alex Dombrandt to an England debut, having played for Cardiff Met University before signing for Harlequins. His outstanding form this season has seen him score eight times for the Famous Quarters and assist two tries in 13 appearances. Although he has lined up alongside Andre Esterhuizen in the Quins' midfield, he can play inside centre for Eddie Jones' charges.

Uncapped outside backs:

Eddie Jones could unleash one of the Premiership's most lethal finishers into the Test arena during the tournament. Exiles' speedster Ollie Hassell-Collins has scored six tries in just 11 games this season, already matching his tally from last season.

Hassell-Collins' clubmate Kyle Rowe could also make his test debut during the tournament for Scotland. The 23-year-old Scotsman has scored five tries and assisted two in seven Premiership appearances for the Exiles. He adds further depth and excitement to an already dangerous Scottish back three.

Italy also has an exciting set of outside backs ready to make their mark for the Azzuri. The first is Benetton's 19-year-old Tommaso Menoncello, who scored four in seven United Rugby Championship matches and represented the Italy u20s at 18.

Menoncello is joined in the squad by 22-year-old Ange Capuozzo, who has been in red hot form in the PROD2 for Grenoble. Capuozzo provides Crawley with depth at wing and fullback. His performances with Grenoble has attracted the interest of Top 14 clubs, with Toulouse leading the way for his signature.

With James Lowe ruled out of the Six Nations, a spot has opened up on the wing for Ireland, and Andy Farrell has two uncapped stars that are more than capable of filling that void.

Ulster's Michael Lowry earned his maiden call up after a rich run of form for the Province. The pocket rocket speedster can play at wing and fullback while potentially covering flyhalf. The 23-year-old has primarily played at fullback for Ulster. Still, a role on the wing is likely, particularly considering how James Lowe popped into the midfield to act as a playmaker during the Autumn Nations Series.

Lowry will face competition for the vacant jumper with Connacht's Mack Hansen named in the squad. Hansen's rich form at Connacht, since his arrival, has been rewarded by the national head coach. His ability to wiggle through tackles and aerial ability to puts him right in the mix for a debut appearance.

Both backs are lethal attackers ready to break open the game in a blink of an eye, providing Farrell with a healthy selection headache.

Finally, Tommy Freeman gives Eddie Jones versatility on the wings and fullback. The Northampton Saints speedster has scored an impressive five Premiership tries in seven appearances and has assisted a further three.