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Warren Gatland has finalised his 31-man squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in Japan. The Kiwi coach was forced to cut 9 players from his training squad following Wales’ loss to Ireland yesterday in Cardiff.
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There is no place in the squad for the highly experienced duo of Samson Lee and Rob Evans, with Gatland deciding to go with five props, including Rhys Carre. Scott Williams also misses out along Owen Lane, with and Hallam Amos and Owen Watkin preferred.
“Selection is always the toughest part of the job and that is especially true come RWC time,” said Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland.
“Reducing the squad down to 31 has been extremely hard especially when you look at the depth we have created and the amount of the work the training squad have put in, for some, 14 weeks of training.
“We are really happy with the final 31, we feel there is an excellent blend to the squad, in terms of talent, experience and age profile and we are all incredibly excited about heading to Japan and what lies ahead.
Asked before the announcement if he thought it would be the best Wales squad he takes to a World Cup, Gatland said: “I think so, yes. “I think it’s the best squad in terms of the depth we’ve got. If we do pick up a few injuries like we did in 2015, I think we would be able to cope so much better now.
“The expectation from ourselves is that we will be very disappointed if we don’t make the quarter-finals, and that’s step one. Then you take every game as it comes. I think we’ve massively over-achieved in what we’ve done in the last 12 years.
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“We are not finished yet. If we are mentally and physically right, we’re capable of beating anyone in the world. I honestly believe we will go a long way at this World Cup.
https://twitter.com/WelshRugbyUnion/status/1168147631291490304
Jake Ball – Camberley | Scarlets (35 Caps) (2015 RWC)
Adam Beard – Birchgrove RFC | Ospreys (15 Caps)
Rhys Carre – St Joseph’s | Saracens (1 Cap)
James Davies – Whitland | Scarlets (5 Caps)
Elliot Dee – Newbridge RFC | Dragons (21 Caps)
Ryan Elias – Carmarthen Athletic | Scarlets (8 Caps)
Tomas Francis – Malton & Norton | Exeter Chiefs (42 Caps) (2015 RWC)
Cory Hill – Pontypridd | Dragons (24 Caps)
Alun Wyn Jones – Bonymaen | Ospreys (127 Caps) (2007/11/15 RWC)
Wyn Jones – Llandovery | Scarlets (14 Caps)
Dillon Lewis – Beddau | Cardiff Blues (14 Caps)
Ross Moriarty – Morriston | Dragons (33 Caps) (2015 RWC)
Josh Navidi – Bridgend Athletic | Cardiff Blues (18 Caps)
Ken Owens – Carmarthen Athletic | Scarlets (66 Caps) (2011/15 RWC)
Aaron Shingler – Hendy | Scarlets (20 Caps)
Nicky Smith – Waunarlwydd | Ospreys (30 Caps)
Justin Tipuric – Trebanos | Ospreys (65 Caps) (2015 RWC)
Aaron Wainwright – Whitehead RFC | Dragons (11 Caps)
Rugby World Cup City Guide – Oita
