LONDON – Wales Coach Warren Gatland has announced the 31-man squad that will take on the world at next month’s Rugby World Cup but not without some controversial selection calls.
With all of the teams so far including some surprises, Gatland’s squad is no different with promising kiwi-born fly half Gareth Anscombe and back rower Ross Moriarty missing out on selection.
Bristol fly-half Matthew Morgan has taken Anscombe’s spot with Gatland suggesting that the team couldn’t carry too many players with injuries heading into the World Cup. However, Gatland has opted to include a number of players under severe injury clouds and who are likely to miss at least one World Cup pool game.
Samson Lee finds himself in the squad for the first time since rupturing his Achilles Tendon in their 6 Nations win over Ireland in March as well as Alun Wyn Jones who is unlikely to feature in at least one of Wales’ World Cup pool games. Utility back Liam Williams also finds himself in the squad despite still recovering from foot surgery.
One of the more controversial omissions is back-rower Moriarty who qualified for both Wales and England under World Rugby eligibility laws. But because of his selection for Wales in their World Cup warm-up matches, can no longer represent his birth country of England despite missing out on World Cup selection.
Wales play their final warm-up match next week against Italy in Cardiff before their first World Cup pool game against Uruguay on 20 September.
Wales 31-man Rugby World Cup Squad
Props: Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Paul James (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Samson Lee (Scarlets).
Hookers: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets).
Locks: Jake Ball (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Dominic Day (Bath), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys).
Back-rows: Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt).
Scrum-halves: Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues).
Fly-halves: Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Matthew Morgan (Bristol), Rhys Priestland (Bath).
Centres: Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Scott Williams (Scarlets).
Wings: Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints).
Full-backs: Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), Liam Williams (Scarlets).