Warren Gatland named a 54-man preliminary Wales Rugby World Cup squad that has already dropped to 50, however the New Zealander should trim the coaching group right down to the ultimate 33 for the event in France.

There have been some notable omissions from the unique line-up with incoming Exeter Chiefs centre Joe Hawkins (5 caps) now ineligible because of the decreased 25-cap rule (gamers should be primarily based in Wales to be chosen if they’ve fewer than 25 caps) however second-row Will Rowlands (23 caps) is included as he’ll nonetheless be registered in Wales through the World Cup regardless of his personal transfer to Racing 92 subsequent season.

Learn extra: Full Rugby World Cup warm-up matches

Gatland additionally produced a curve ball by together with Montpellier prop Henry Thomas – a former England worldwide. Nevertheless, the surprises weren’t over as Wales legends Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric introduced their worldwide retirements on the identical Friday, ruling them out of the World Cup.

Rhys Webb adopted swimsuit to take up a taking part in alternative abroad and Rhys Carre was faraway from the group with an official assertion saying: “Following ongoing discussions between the participant and the Wales teaching workforce, Carre has failed to fulfill particular person efficiency targets set on the finish of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations.”

And on Friday 9 June, lock Cory Hill additionally dropped out of the prolonged squad, to pursue a membership contract. He mentioned: “I’m gutted to be leaving the squad, however a possibility has come up and I have to take it for my household.”

Wales will chop the variety of gamers of their squad forward of specialist coaching camps in Switzerland and Turkey in July. Gatland’s males will then tackle England house and away earlier than internet hosting South Africa in August, earlier than the ultimate 33-man squad is known as.

The Wales boss mentioned: “We’ve picked a big squad for quite a few causes. We’ll scale back the squad to about 45 earlier than we go to Switzerland so there’s a little bit of jeopardy within the first a part of the marketing campaign.

“It’s a terrific alternative for some gamers that had been concerned within the Six Nations and a few kids for the longer term to point out us what they’re able to doing within the first a part of the preparation.

“Previously we’ve prided ourselves on how arduous we’ve labored and the way match the squad has been. In order that’s the message to the gamers to come back in and make an announcement, work actually arduous, make the coaches sit up and take discover and get your self in nice form bodily.

“Loads of ability work must be carried out and there’s a possibility to work on the element you typically don’t get whenever you go into Six Nations or Autumn campaigns when you could have restricted preparation time.”

Try who made the lower, under…

Wales Rugby World Cup preliminary coaching squad

Forwards (28)

Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – uncapped)
Nicky Smith (Ospreys – 42 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 21 caps)
Elliot Dee (Dragons – 41 caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 33 caps)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 8 caps)
Ken Owens (Scarlets – 91 caps)
Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 71 caps)
Will Davies-King (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 50 caps)
Henry Thomas (Montpellier – uncapped)
Adam Beard (Ospreys – 46 caps)
Ben Carter (Dragons – 9 caps)
Rhys Davies (Ospreys – 2 caps)
Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 6 cap)
Will Rowlands (Dragons – 23 caps)
Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 5 caps)
Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
Taine Basham (Dragons – 11 caps)
Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 100 caps)
Dan Lydiate (Ospreys – 68 caps)
Josh Macleod (Scarlets – 2 caps)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 9 caps)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 9 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 37 caps)

Backs (22)

Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 67 caps)
Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 17 caps)
Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 45 caps)
Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys – 35 caps)
Dan Biggar (Toulon – 107 caps)
Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 2 caps)
Owen Williams (Ospreys – 7 caps)
Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 2 caps)
Max Llewellyn (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
George North (Ospreys – 113 caps)
Joe Roberts (Scarlets – uncapped)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 27 caps)
Johnny Williams (Scarlets – 5 caps)
Keiran Williams (Ospreys – uncapped)
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 49 caps)
Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 57 caps)
Rio Dyer (Dragons – 7 caps)
Cai Evans (Ospreys – uncapped)
Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets – 99 caps)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 25 caps)
Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 2 caps)
Liam Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 84 caps)

Wales Rugby World Cup squad 2023

As of 2021, it was introduced by World Rugby that World Cup squad sizes can be elevated from 31 gamers to 33 for the showcase in France , as a part of ongoing player-welfare initiatives. It was made that approach alongside plans for there to be at the least 5 days preparation for all matches, with the pool phases prolonged by every week.

This might be up to date when the WRU announce the official Wales squad for France 2023.

Wales Rugby World Cup Pool

Wales have been drawn in Pool C alongside Australia, Fiji, Georgia and Portugal.

Click on right here for the whole Rugby World Cup 2023 fixtures listing or learn on for Wales’ video games.

Solar 10 Sept Wales v Fiji (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux), 8pm

Sat 16 Sept Wales v Portugal (Stade de Good, Good), 4.45pm

Solar 24 Sept Wales v Australia (Parc OL, Lyon), 8pm

Sat 7 Oct Wales v Georgia (Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes), 2pm

The knockout phases will comply with the identical format as earlier years, with groups from Swimming pools A and B then Swimming pools C and D assembly within the quarter-finals. So Wales and England might meet within the final eight, for instance.

QF1 – Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D
QF2 – Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A
QF3 – Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C
QF4 – Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B

Then the semi-finals would be the Winner of QF1 v Winner QF2 and the Winner QF3 v Winner QF4.

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