Australia head coach Eddie Jones has named his 33-man squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
The squad features a blend of experience and youth, with Michael Hooper, David Pocock and Quade Cooper all missing out. There are also first call-ups for Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Carter Gordon, and Max Jorgensen.
Will Skelton will captain the side, with James Slipper and Nic White named vice-captains.
The squad is as follows:
Forwards:
- Angus Bell (NSW Waratahs)
- Pone Fa’amausili (Melbourne Rebels)
- Zane Nonggorr (Western Force)
- Blake Schoupp (NSW Waratahs)
- James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
- Taniela Tupou (Queensland Reds)
- Matt Faessler (Queensland Reds)
- Dave Porecki (NSW Waratahs)
- Jordan Uelese (Melbourne Rebels)
- Richie Arnold (Stade Toulousain)
- Nick Frost (Western Force)
- Matt Philip (Melbourne Rebels)
- Will Skelton (captain, La Rochelle)
- Langi Gleeson (NSW Waratahs)
- Tom Hooper (London Irish)
- Josh Kemeny (Western Force)
- Rob Leota (Melbourne Rebels)
- Fraser McReight (Queensland Reds)
- Rob Valetini (Brisbane City)
Backs:
- Issak Fines-Leleiwasa (Western Force)
- Tate McDermott (Queensland Reds)
- Nic White (captain, ACT Brumbies)
- Carter Gordon (Melbourne Rebels)
- Lalakai Foketi (NSW Waratahs)
- Samu Kerevi (Sunwolves)
- Izaia Perese (Waratahs)
- Jordan Petaia (Queensland Reds)
- Max Jorgensen (NSW Waratahs)
- Andrew Kellaway (Melbourne Rebels)
- Marika Koroibete (Melbourne Rebels)
- Mark Nawaqanitawase (Queensland Reds)
- Suliasi Vunivalu (Waratahs)
- Ben Donaldson (NSW Waratahs)
Australia are drawn in Pool C alongside Wales, Fiji, Georgia and Portugal.
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They will begin their campaign against Georgia in Saint-Denis on September 9, 2023.
Jones said: “We are excited to announce our squad for the Rugby World Cup. It is a talented group of players who have worked hard to earn their selection.
“We have a challenging pool but we are confident in our ability to compete and win. We are looking forward to the tournament and giving it our best.”
Australia are one of the favorites to win the Rugby World Cup in France. They have a strong squad with a good mix of experience and youth. They will be hoping to go one step further than their last World Cup campaign, when they lost to England in the final.
The squad features a number of experienced players who will be key to Australia’s chances, including Slipper, White, and Cooper. There are also a number of exciting young players in the squad, such as Fines-Leleiwasa, Gordon, and Jorgensen.
Australia will be hoping to make a deep run at the World Cup and challenge for the title. They have a tough pool to navigate, but they have the talent and experience to do so.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the squad announcement:
- The most notable absentee is Michael Hooper, who has been Australia’s captain since 2015. Hooper has been ruled out of the World Cup due to a knee injury.
- David Pocock and Quade Cooper have also been left out of the squad. Pocock is retiring from international rugby, while Cooper has been struggling with form.
- Will Skelton has been named captain, with James Slipper and Nic White named vice-captains. Skelton is a physical presence in the scrum and will be key to Australia’s chances of winning the World Cup.
- There are a number of first-time call-ups in the squad, including Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Carter Gordon, and Max Jorgensen. These players will be looking to make their mark on the World Cup stage.
Overall, Australia have a strong squad for the Rugby World Cup. They will be one of the favorites to win the tournament, but they will need to be at their best to overcome the challenges of the pool stage.
See also: Meet the Players Who Will Be Competing for Rugby World Cup Glory in France
