Six Nations: Shock Wales call up for Quins lock Olly Kohn

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Olly Kohn

Harlequins lock Olly Kohn has been called up to Wales' Six Nations squad by interim coach Rob Howley.

Kohn, 31, comes in ahead of the Grand Slam holders' opener against Ireland on Saturday, 2 February at the Millennium Stadium.

BBC Sport Wales revealed - via a grandparent - earlier this month.

"Receiving the call up was surreal and I can't wait to join up with the squad this weekend," said Kohn.

"It's a really proud moment for me and a great opportunity to show what I can do.

"It will be good to meet the squad, get training and hopefully be part of a successful Six Nations campaign with Wales."

Bristol-born Kohn, 6ft 7in and 21st 10lb, played his part in Harlequins winning the 2011-12 Aviva Premiership and they are in this season's Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

He is eligible for Wales through Test rugby's eligibility rules that call for birth, three-year-residency or family connections as far back as grandparents.

Howley said: "We looked at Olly when we initially selected the Six Nations squad and we have brought him in now as we believe he will be an experienced addition.

"He has been performing very well for Quins and has been a feature in their pack.

"He's a strong ball carrier and dominant at the set piece and it will be good to see him in the international environment."

Wales have been beset by injuries at lock forward this season and Kohn's call-up means there are now

Grand Slam winners Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Luke Charteris and Bradley Davies have figured in successful Wales campaigns, but all are injured.

Osprey Jones is expected to return from a shoulder injury during the tournament.

Wales hope Evans (knee) will be fit to face Ireland, but Charteris (knee) and Davies (ankle) will play no part in it.

Along with Evans and Jones Kohn will compete for a starting placed against Lou Reed (Cardiff Blues) James King (Ospreys) and Andrew Coombs (Dragons) as well as versatile back-row forward Ryan Jones (Ospreys).

However, Ryan Jones (thumb) also remains an injury doubt.

WALES SQUAD:

Forwards: Scott Andrews (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Paul James (Bath), Gethin Jenkins (Toulon), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Olly Kohn (Harlequins), Lou Reed (Blues), Ian Evans (Ospreys), James King (Ospreys), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Josh Navidi (Blues), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Blues), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Andries Pretorius (Blues)

Backs: Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Bayonne), Lloyd Williams (Blues), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), James Hook (Perpignan), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Alex Cuthbert (Blues), George North (Scarlets), Eli Walker (Ospreys), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Lee Byrne (Clermont).

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148 comments

  • 16 posts and bickering already :S

    Congrats to Kohn. As a Quins fan I see him ply his trade week in & out and he isn't a line out practitioner, but a monster in the tight, used to free flowing Rugby and hits the breakdown fast & hard to get the backs clean ball.

    Good luck to Kohn & Wales ... but not too much for the England/Wales game ;)

  • Each home nation currently fields players not born in that country: O'Gara (USA), Heaslip (Israel), Faletau (Tonga), Lydiate (England), Barritt (NZ), Tuilagi (Samoa), Visser (Holland), Denton (Zimbabwe). It is nothing new.

    This Olly Kohn reminds me a lot of Will James (Gloucester lock) who got picked for the Wales at the age of 30 as no-one had realised he was Welsh Qualified up until that point

  • @18 It's getting harder and harder to find a decent forum these days.
    I'm just glad that fans know how to behave in the real world rugby wins every time.

  • @14
    The only reason you chose to compare them is because they both have pacific island heirtage not because their cases are any similar.
    Tuilagi moved for rugby after the success of his brothers in a hope he would be solid for leicester and then play for england, Faletau was in wales because his dad moved clubs, not so that in 15 year his son would be able to play for wales instead of Tonga .

  • @91 Davies, North, Evans, Charteris, Lydiate and Faletau were all born outside of Wales, that is true. However their parents are Welsh and all started playing rugby in Wales. Faletau actually played a bit of rugby for a club in Bristol for a bit but was picked up by the Dragons through the school system. The English players who have listed are far more dubious

  • number 11 bradleylesswans you are an deluded. You might think that one good season means that all your players are class but you are wrong.I really dont like the English but they are quite clearly a far better team than you currently

  • What I find difficult to get my head around is how can anybody play against the country they were born in and probably have spent most of their life having ambitions to represent them.
    There is no way my heart or mind would let me line up to play against Wales,

  • Just shows the state of welsh rugby when we need to call up a plastic taffy. I wish that howely an co would grow a pair an stick one of the the young lads in. From the outside it looks like we only stock 6 second row players in wales.

    34 years ago Jonathon davies told the wru that we need to go to new Zealand take note of the way they do things . The NZ selectors are spoilt for choice.

  • Oh no!! A "Welshman" called - Olly.

  • It's interesting the things that make people so patriotic and upset by who plays for what country. St George wasn't English but from Palestine and the George flag was first used by the French not the English. Good luck to those who play International sport. Nowadays people qualify for many countries based on the international lives we all live

  • The IRB rules are laughable,it seems to me that all countries seem to have mercenaries in their squad who go where the money is best ,or they ca'nt get in to their own national team. Time for the IRB to tighten the rules , I do'nt even know whether Kohn is Welsh or not, I'm getting at any particular country ,the whole system is a farce ,every country is at it

  • @93 - Serge Blanco was born in Venezuala ! and South Africa have been using Namibian and Zimbabwean players for years.
    As has previously been said, as long as they wear the shirt with pride and commitment, thats what counts the most. Rugby these days is a business and industry and the players are the employees. Sad fact but thats the way of sport now.

  • Evans was brought up in Aberdare, and began playing his Rugby Abercwmboi RFC
    Davies moved at a young age with his family to Bancyfelin, Carmarthenshire
    North aged 18 months moved back to Anglesey when his father left RAF
    Lydiate was raised in Llandrindod and is a product of the Dragons academy
    Charteris age grade player
    Faletau moved to Wales aged 7
    Cuthbert mother from North Wales

  • As long as Wales play him and James King together I dont care where he's from. Means we'll have King Kohn in the 2nd row then. I'll get my coat....

  • If any one can find a link to the Brett Sinkinson interview on BBC I would like to see this again - tv gold! 3rd most embarrassing moment imo by the WRU. Kohn qualifies by the current rules, as long as he wears the jersey with pride...good luck to him if he makes the cut for us.

    http://www.thefreelibrary.com/YOU'RE+AS+WELSH+AS+JONAH+LOMU,+BRETT%3B+Kiwi+laughs+off+scandal+of...-a060288003

  • These debates about player eligibility are a lot more interesting when you have had a few pints of the black stuff

    If you haven’t they are same old same old

    Boring

  • @75 People are talking in sporting terms you have taken it to the next level. The IRB needs to have a good hard look at the way players qualify before internationals matches become nothing more than a glorified club match.

  • 2 points to ping pong: you'll find most of the comments on this thread regarding your thread are from the opinions from England supporters, who's points are valid by some posters; second point - so you think we should scrap International matches and concentrate on club matches based on your comment?

  • Good player - but hes not Welsh. Dont pretend that he is.

  • Spot on 67, without misinterpreting G Llewelyn's comments, Kohn may have aspirations playing for England, unable to make selection for their A team, fancies a pop at earning an International cap, good luck to him - may be able to emulate Flutey & make the Lions tour :p. Part of me echos posts already, would have been great to see players like BMorgan putting on red but he made the right decision.

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