SECOND ROW
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Cory Hill
Wales were dealt a significant blow to their locks, after the duo of Alun Wyn Jones and Cory Hill both voluntarily withdrew from Warren Gatland’s squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The legendary Welsh lock Alun Wyn Jones has also left his boyhood club Ospreys, and has since joined Toulon in a joker role for the duration of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Cory Hill stepped away, and has agreed a move to Japanese fourth division club Secom Ruggets. Wales are set to remain with the lock partnership of Adam Beard and Will Rowlands, with their second row ranks being diminished for the competition.
BACK ROW
6. Justin Tipuric
7. Michael Hooper
8. Alex Dombrandt
The back-row for this side features another Wales legend, as Justin Tipuric followed suit by stepping down alongside Alun Wyn Jones. The Ospreys man self-withdrew on a chaotic day for the WRU, with Jac Morgan the latest newcomer to step up and take control on the Welsh flank.
Eddie Jones shocked the Australian rugby fanbase, as former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper was left out of the 33-man squad for the Rugby World Cup. Hooper is a high profile absentee alongside veteran halfback Quade Cooper, with 31-year-old Hooper overlooked by Jones. The flanker was expected to be recover from a calf injury in time for the World Cup, yet has since been excluded by Jones.
England number eight Alex Dombrandt wraps up this squad of players set to miss the Rugby World Cup . Steve Borthwick released Dombrandt back to Harlequins, after the number eight failed to impress in the first test against Wales, off the back off an under-par performance in the 2023 Six Nations. Borthwick has since preferred Billy Vunipola as the sole specialist eight-man, yet he’s now been ruled out of the opening match against Argentina following a red card enforced ban.