Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland has named a 43-man squad, who will travel to Turkey as preparations continue for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Gatland has named nine uncapped players in the squad, who are hopeful to make their Wales debuts this Summer.
Wales will be in Turkey from the 23rd to 31st of July, before returning for their opening Summer Series match against England. The clash against England at the Principality Stadium takes place on Saturday August 5th, and it is the first of three Rugby World Cup warm-up matches for Gatland’s side.
Wales will head to Twickenham for the return fixture against England on Saturday August 12th, before their final test takes shape against the Springboks back in Cardiff on Saturday 19th August. Gatland will then cut down his squad to just 33 players, as they finalise preparations for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Gatland said to the WRU website: “We’re really pleased with how our two-week training camp has gone in Switzerland. The players worked extremely hard and made really good progress.
“As well as having the natural benefits from living at high altitude, players experienced temperatures in the mid-to late thirties (degrees centigrade) during our on-pitch sessions which will be good preparation for our next camp in Turkey.
“The 43 players travelling to Turkey are all available for selection for the first match against England on 5 August. Those not travelling remain in our wider training squad and will join back up with us on our return to Wales.
“We’ve decided to keep a larger group in our squad as we prepare for our three Vodafone Summer Series matches. We know injuries unfortunately can be picked up along the way, so it’s important to ensure that as wide a number of players as possible are up to speed with our plans.”
Wales will be without multiple high-profile names for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, as several of Gatland’s veteran stars have either voluntarily withdrawn from the side or are forced out due to injury. Welsh stalwarts Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb have all stepped down from international duties, with 2023 Six Nations Captain Ken Owens missing out due to re-occurring injuries.
43-man Wales Squad for 2023 Rugby World Cup Summer Warm-Up Matches
FORWARDS (25)
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)
Sam Parry (Ospreys – 5 caps)
Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 71 caps)
Dillon Lewis (Harlequins – 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 caps)
Will Rowlands (Dragons – 23 caps)
Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 5 caps)
Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
Taine Basham (Dragons – 11 caps)
Dan Lydiate (Dragons – 68 caps)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 9 caps)
Taine Plumree (Scarlets – uncapped)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 9 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 37 caps)
BACKS (18)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 67 caps)
Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 17 caps)
Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 45 cap)
Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys – 35 caps)
Dan Biggar (Toulon – 107 caps)
Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 2 caps)
Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 2 caps)
Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – uncapped)
George North (Ospreys – 113 caps)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 27 caps)
Keiran Williams (Ospreys – uncapped)
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 49 caps)
Rio Dyer (Dragons – 7 caps)
Cai Evans (Dragons – uncapped)
Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets – 99 caps)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 25 caps)
Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 2 caps)
Liam Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 84 caps)