Big blow as Wales lose their captain ahead of World Cup
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales head coach Warren Gatland has confirmed 47 players in his updated training squad for World Cup 2023.
Sam Parry (Ospreys) has been called up to the squad.
Wales captain Ken Owens (back) and Josh Macleod (shoulder), as well as Cardiff’s Will Davies-King (foot) have been released due to injury.
Since the initial preliminary training squad announcement on May 1, Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb have all retired from international rugby. Rhys Carre was released and Cory Hill withdrew from the squad as he is unavailable to play during the World Cup.
Gatland said: “We’ve been really pleased with the players’ attitude and commitment throughout the first few weeks of our mini camps.
“The group has worked really hard and there have been a few curve balls from us in terms of testing them mentally and physically as people may have seen in some of our videos.
“Unfortunately we’re having to release Ken, Josh and Will due to injury which is really disappointing, but all three are hoping to be available later in the year should we need an injury replacement at any point.
“Ken has a niggle in his back which he needs some time out to sort. Josh got the injury on club duty – we were hoping to be able to manage it, but specialist assessment showed that wasn’t possible. Will picked up the foot injury in training with us which we were managing but then he got re-injured so has been released.”
After a period of mini camps running a few days a week from May 25 to June 21 the squad has assembled for three more days training this week at the National Centre of Excellence in Hensol before travelling to Fiesch, Switzerland on Monday, July 3 for a two-week training camp.
Gatland added: “We’re looking forward to getting the group back together for a few days further training in Wales before we head to Switzerland.
“We’ve done a lot of good preparation already here in Wales and we are heading to Fiesch where we are looking to get the benefits of sleeping at altitude and will kick our training up another gear.
“Owen Williams and Alex Cuthbert won’t travel to Switzerland for personal reasons, but we are looking for them to attend our training camp in Turkey.
“Taulupe Faletau will travel out to Switzerland for the second week of the training camp as he’s managing a bit of a calf injury and so he can help out at home with his young family following the recent birth of his third child.”
Following the training camp in Switzerland the squad will have a few days off before reconvening for a training camp in Turkey running July 23 to 31.
Wales then have three Test matches against England (home and away on August 5 and 12) and South Africa (August 19 at Millennium Stadium) before the official 33-player squad heading to World Cup 2023 in France is named.
Wales squad:
Forwards: Corey Domachowski, Kemsley Mathias, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias, Dewi Lake, Sam Parry, Keiron Assiratti, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Henry Thomas, Adam Beard, Ben Carter, Rhys Davies, Dafydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Christ Tshiunza, Teddy Williams, Taine Basham, Taulupe Faletau, Dan Lydiate, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright.
Backs: Gareth Davies, Kieran Hardy, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar, Sam Costelow, Owen Williams, Mason Grady, Max Llewellyn, George North, Joe Roberts, Nick Tompkins, Johnny Williams, Keiran Williams, Josh Adams, Alex Cuthbert, Rio Dyer, Cai Evans, Leigh Halfpenny, Louis Rees-Zammit, Tom Rogers, Liam Williams.
