WINGER Rio Dyer is the only Dragons player to earn selection for Wales' Six Nations opener against Ireland.

The 23-year-old from Rogerstone is selected in the XV for the Principality Stadium opener.

There is disappointment for the trio of hooker Bradley Roberts, tighthead Leon Brown and back row forward Aaron Wainwright.

Roberts misses out as back-up to captain Ken Owens to Scott Baldwin despite being picked ahead of the Osprey, who was only called up to the Six Nations squad when Dewi Lake suffered an injury.

Brown returned from nine months out with a shoulder problem this month but loses out to fit-again Dillon Lewis for the bench spot behind Tomas Francis.

Wainwright's absence is expected given the back row riches. Jac Morgan edges out Tommy Reffell to join Taulupe Faletau and Justin Tipuric.

Dyer links up with Leigh Halfpenny and Josh Adams in the back three after making an impression in the autumn when he scored on Test debut against New Zealand before crossing against Australia.

Joe Hawkins gets the nod at inside centre after making his first international outing against the Wallabies.

WALES

15. Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets – 97 caps)

14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 43 caps)

13. George North (Ospreys – 109 caps)

12. Joe Hawkins (Ospreys – 1 cap)

11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 3 caps)

10. Dan Biggar (Toulon – 103 caps)

9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 40 caps)

1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 17 caps)

2. Ken Owens (Scarlets – 86 caps) captain

3. Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 67 caps)

4. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 41 caps)

5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 155 caps)

6. Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 6 caps)

7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys – 89 caps)

8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 95 caps)

Replacements

16. Scott Baldwin (Ospreys – 34 caps)

17. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 17 caps)

18. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 45 caps)

19. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 1 cap)

20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 4 caps)

21. Rhys Webb (Ospreys – 36 caps)

22. Owen Williams (Ospreys – 3 caps)

23. Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 55 caps)