The Wales second-row Bradley Davies has been given a leave of absence after his mother, Sheryl, died following a short illness. He has been told he will be in the side to face France in Cardiff next week in what would be his first Six Nations start.

"I have told Bradley that we fully understand that his focus is on this sad loss and his absence from any of our sessions will not count against his continued inclusion in the Six Nations squad," said the Wales coach, Warren Gatland.

"I will announce the team to play France on Monday and I have informed Bradley that he will be selected in the starting XV. His initial view is that his mother would be extremely proud of that and he wants to play any part he is selected for. I will fully understand if he and his family come to any other decision."

The 23-year-old Davies has won eight Wales caps, mostly off the bench. He made a big impact as a replacement against Scotland last week and was promoted to the starting ranks after Alun Wyn Jones was this week ruled out for up to 12 weeks with an elbow injury.

With Jonathan Thomas moving from lock to the back row to fill the gap left by Andy Powell, who was this week thrown out of the squad after being charged with drink-driving following an alleged incident with a golf buggy in the early hours of Sunday morning, Wales are running short of options in the second row.

"It is important that Bradley spends time with his family to come to terms with their loss," said Gatland. "We are extremely close as a squad and Bradley knows if he wants to be with the boys, we will welcome him. Equally we will understand if he needs to be away from the training park."

Wales will not be calling another second-row into the squad even with Jones, who ran the lineout, playing no further part in the Six Nations campaign. As well as Davies they have Luke Charteris, who was dropped after the defeat against England, Ian Gough and Deiniol Jones, while Thomas can play anywhere in the back five.

The Ospreys lock, Ian Evans, whose career has been disrupted by injuries, is fit and playing for the Ospreys again but Gatland said he was happy with the resources he had in the second row.