Max Llewellyn said to be ‘shocked’ by his Six Nations omission

Gloucester: George Skivington, the Gloucester boss, was taken aback by the news that both Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn were left out of Wales’ Six Nations squad. Llewellyn, in particular, was said to be shocked by the decision.

Both players have been crucial to Gloucester’s success this season, yet they didn’t make the 34-man squad announced by Warren Gatland for the upcoming campaign starting against France on January 31.

Alongside teammates like Tomos Williams and Josh Hathaway, Llewellyn has been a standout performer, currently tied as the top try-scorer in the Premiership. Gloucester is just three points shy of the play-off spots and is also aiming for a place in the last 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

Skivington shared his surprise, saying he had expected both players to be part of the Six Nations. He noted that they were disappointed but remained positive, focusing on what they can control moving forward.

He emphasized that things can change quickly in rugby, and opportunities might arise for them later. Both players have been in great form, and Skivington was genuinely surprised by their exclusion.

Anscombe, who has a solid 38-cap Test career, has shown resilience after overcoming serious injuries. Llewellyn, on the other hand, was looking forward to building on his recent performances from the Autumn Nations Series.

Skivington acknowledged that while Anscombe is used to the ups and downs of rugby, Llewellyn might be feeling the sting more acutely after working hard to earn his spot.

Despite the disappointment, Skivington believes Llewellyn is a strong character who will do everything he can to get back into the squad.

He also mentioned that he hadn’t discussed the selections with Gatland, respecting the coach’s experience and approach to international rugby.