Wales head coach Warren Gatland has named his 33-man squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
The squad features a blend of experience and youth, with Dan Biggar, Alun Wyn Jones and Leigh Halfpenny all selected for their fourth World Cup. There are also first call-ups for Christ Tshiunza, Kieran Hardy and Sam Costelow.
Biggar will captain the side, with Jones named vice-captain.
The squad is as follows:
Forwards:
- Wyn Jones (Scarlets)
- Nicky Smith (Ospreys)
- Ryan Elias (Scarlets)
- Elliot Dee (Dragons)
- Ken Owens (Scarlets)
- Dewi Lake (Ospreys)
- Dillon Lewis (Dragons)
- Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs)
- Adam Beard (Ospreys)
- Will Rowlands (Dragons)
- Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs)
- Alun Wyn Jones (captain, Ospreys)
- Taulupe Faletau (Bath)
- Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
- Jac Morgan (Ospreys)
- Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby)
- Tommy Reffell (Ospreys)
Backs:
- Gareth Davies (Scarlets)
- Kieran Hardy (Scarlets)
- Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby)
- Dan Biggar (captain, Northampton Saints)
- Sam Costelow (Dragons)
- Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys)
- Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby)
- Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby)
- Nick Tompkins (Saracens)
- Johnny Williams (Scarlets)
- George North (Ospreys)
- Owen Watkin (Dragons)
- Liam Williams (Scarlets)
Wales are drawn in Pool C alongside Australia, Fiji, Georgia and Portugal.
RELATED: Australia (Wallabies) name 33-man for 2023 Rugby World Cup squad
RELATED: Fiji Rugby World Cup 2023 squad: A mix of experience and youth
RELATED: Georgia name 33-man squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup
RELATED: Portugal name 33-man squad for Rugby World Cup 2023
They will begin their campaign against Fiji in Bordeaux on September 10, 2023.
Gatland 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.”
Wales 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 reached the semifinals.
The squad features a number of experienced players who will be key to Wales’ chances, including Biggar, Jones, North, and Rees-Zammit. There are also a number of exciting young players in the squad, such as Costelow, Williams, and Reffell.
Wales 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.
See more: Meet the Players Who Will Be Competing for Rugby World Cup Glory in France
