The recent untimely injuries to England and France halfbacks Jack van Poortvliet and Romain Ntamack, presented the harsh reality that every rugby player fears. Both van Poortvliet and Ntamack will miss the Rugby World Cup due to injuries, after untimely injuries in the 2023 Summer Nations Series.
Following the recent 33-man squad announcements, for most of the major nations for the upcoming World Cup, we have pieced together a side of players that will miss out on the trip to France.
Be it due to an unfortunate injury, being dropped from the squad, a shock retirement or simply quitting the national team, here are RUCK’s picks for an ultimate XV, of players which will miss out on the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
BACK THREE
15. Stuart Hogg (Retired)
14. Sevu Reece (New Zealand and Crusaders)
11. Jonny May (England and Gloucester Rugby)
The back three trio of this combined squad starts off with the shock retirement of Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg. The former Exeter Chiefs man was expected to retire from international rugby following the Rugby World Cup, yet he shocked Gregor Townsend’s squad by hanging up the boots ahead of the competition.
All Blacks and Crusaders winger Sevu Reece will miss the competition through a knee ligament injury, slotting him in on the right wing. Jonny May comes in on the left, after the Gloucester flyer was let back to his club after failing to work his way into Steve Borthwick’s 33-man squad.
CENTRES
13. Lukhanyo Am (South Africa and Sharks)
12. Henry Slade (England and Exeter Chiefs)
This centre partnership sees another one of Steve Borthwick’s releases included, after Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade’s shock exclusion from the Rugby World Cup squad. Slade was amongst eight players who played against Wales in the opening Summer Nations Series match in Cardiff, who have been subsequently let go.
South Africa’s powerhouse centre Lukhanyo Am will be missed by the Boks, as his knee injury takes him out of Jacques Nienaber’s World Cup squad. The Sharks man is amongst a trio of high-profile Springboks absentees, alongside fly half Handre Pollard and lock Lood de Jager.