Tomos Williams will make his Six Nations debut for Wales in Friday’s tournament opener against France.
The Cardiff Blues scrum-half, who featured in six Tests last year, has been preferred to Gareth Davies for the game in Paris.
Head coach Warren Gatland has announced two other changes following victory over South Africa in November, with Scarlets prop Rob Evans and Blues flanker Josh Navidi both gaining call-ups.
Davies, meanwhile, has shaken off a thigh strain, but he will be among the replacements as Wales target a seventh win from their last eight starts against Les Bleus.
Williams, 24, is partnered at half-back by his Blues colleague Gareth Anscombe, with Dan Biggar joining Davies on the bench.
Number eight Ross Moriarty makes a first appearance since mid-December after being sidelined because of concussion, packing down in the back-row alongside Navidi and openside flanker Justin Tipuric.
And Scarlets hooker Ken Owens will become his country’s most capped player in that position, making a 61st appearance and overtaking Matthew Rees’ record.
Victory for Wales at Stade de France would extend their unbeaten run to 10 games, matching a longest winning sequence since 1999.
They have not lost since Ireland beat them during last season’s Six Nations.
“We come into the game on an impressive run of results, but we know how tough it will be to face France in Paris in the tournament opener.
“It will be a huge contest, but we are excited going into it.
“We have a great deal of experience across the team and on the bench, and we want to kick things off well on Friday.”
