Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland has named his side to take on Fiji in their opening match in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The two sides meet in Pool C, this Sunday 10 September (8pm BST / 9pm local time live on ITV and S4C).
Scroll down to see the Wales squad to play Fiji, for their Pool C match in the 2023 Rugby World Cup
WALES TEAM NEWS
Jac Morgan captains the side at openside flanker, with Aaron Wainwright on the blindside and the returning Taulupe Faletau coming in at number eight for his 101st test cap. George North makes his 17th Rugby World Cup appearance in his fourth tournament. He partners Nick Tompkins in the Wales centres.
The experienced halfback partnership of Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar start, with the duo both embarking on their third respective Rugby World Cups. Biggar is on the cusp of reaching 100 points at Rugby World Cup competitions, and is just one well struck penalty away from the century (currently 97 points).
In the Wales back three, Liam Williams starts at fullback, with Gloucester’s Louis Rees Zammit and the 2019 Rugby World Cup’s top try scorer (seven tries) Josh Adams on the wings. Gareth Thomas is named at loosehead prop. Ryan Elias, featuring in his second tournament, is selected at hooker. Tomas Francis, in his 11th World Cup match, completes the front row.
Will Rowlands and Adam Beard pair up in the second row to round off the starting XV. Among the replacements Tomos Williams, Sam Costelow and Rio Dyer provide the back line cover. The replacement Welsh forwards are hooker Elliot Dee, Props Corey Domachowski and Dillon Lewis, with lock Dafydd Jenkins, the youngest player in the Wales squad, and Tommy Reffell as a versatile forward option.
Wales team to play Fiji:
15. Liam Williams (Kubota Spears – 85 caps)
14. Louis Rees Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 27 caps)*
13. George North (Ospreys – 114 caps)
12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 28 caps)*
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 50 caps)
10. Dan Biggar (RC Toulonnais – 109 caps)
9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 69 caps)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 22 caps)*
2. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 34 caps)
3. Tomas Francis (Provence Rugby – 72 caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 25 caps)*
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 47 caps)
6. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 39 caps)
7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 11 caps) captain*
8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 100 caps)
Replacements
16, Elliot Dee (Dragons – 43 caps)
17. Corey Domachowski ( Cardiff Rugby – 2 caps)*
18. Dillon Lewis (Harlequins – 51 caps)
19. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 7 caps)*
20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 10 caps)*
21. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 48 caps)
22. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 4 caps)*
23. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 9 caps)*
*player appearing in first Rugby World Cup