Warren Gatland names two captains for Wales RWC campaign

Both Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan will lead Wales.

Warren Gatland has named his 33 man squad for the tournament which starts next month
Author: Lauren JonesPublished 21st Aug 2023

Warren Gatland has named his 33 man squad for the Rugby World Cup next month in France.

He's selected two captains to lead Wales in the form of Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan.

Wales' most capped player George North - with 114 appearances - will play in his 4th Rugby World Cup.

There are also places for fellow senior players Dan Biggar, Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams and Dan Lydiate.

Wales who are in Pool C play their first game of the tournament on September 10th against Fiji in Bordeaux.

There are also pool games against Portugal, Australia and Georgia.

Loosehead prop Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby) and tighthead prop Henry Thomas (Montpellier) are included having won their first senior caps for Wales during the Summer Series matches this August.

20-year old second row Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs) is the youngest member of the squad.

Warren Gatland said : "The toughest part of the job is always selection and this is particularly the case when it comes to picking a Rugby World Cup squad,".

"Over the past three months the whole group of 48 players in the wider training squad has been outstanding in terms of attitude and effort, so having to reduce the squad down to the final 33 has been really hard and there have been some close final decisions in the last 36 hours.

"But we can only take 33 players and those we have selected we think offer a good combination in terms of talent and experience.

"We have a few more training sessions here in Wales before we depart for France on 3 September and we cannot wait to get out there and get started in this tournament. We look forward to what lies ahead for this group.

"This will be a very proud moment for these players, their families and friends and I’d like to congratulate them all on the achievement."

(Player | first club | club | Wales caps | previous RWC)

BLAENWYR | FORWARDS (19)

Taine Basham – Talywain | Dragons (13 caps)

Adam Beard – Birchgrove | Ospreys (47 caps) (2019 RWC)

Elliot Dee – Newbridge | Dragons | (43 caps) (2019 RWC)

Corey Domachowski – Gilfach Goch | Cardiff Rugby (2 caps)

Ryan Elias – Carmarthen Athletic | Scarlets (34 caps) (2019 RWC)

Taulupe Faletau – RTB Ebbw Vale | Cardiff Rugby | (100 caps) (2011 RWC)

Tomas Francis – Malton & Norton | Provence | (72 caps) (2015 & 2019 RWC)

Dafydd Jenkins – Porthcawl | Exeter Chiefs (7 caps)

Dewi Lake – Valley Ravens | Ospreys (9 caps)

Dillon Lewis – Beddau | Harlequins (51 caps) (2019 RWC)

Dan Lydiate – Rhayader | Dragons (71 caps) (2011 & 2015 RWC)

Jac Morgan – Cwmtwrch | Ospreys (11 caps)

Tommy Reffell – Pencoed | Leicester Tigers (10 caps)

Will Rowlands – Dragons (25 caps)

Nicky Smith – Waunarlwydd | Ospreys (44 caps) (2019 RWC)

Gareth Thomas – Newcastle Emlyn | Ospreys (22 caps)

Henry Thomas – Bath minis & juniors | Montpellier (2 caps)

Christ Tshiunza – Rhiwbina Squirrels | Exeter Chiefs (7 caps)

Aaron Wainwright – Whiteheads | Dragons (39 caps) (2019 RWC)

OLWYR | BACKS (14)

Josh Adams – Hendy | Cardiff Rugby (50 Caps) (2019 RWC)

Gareth Anscombe – Ponsonby | Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath (35 caps) (2015 RWC)

Dan Biggar – Gorseinon | Toulon (109 Caps) (2015 & 2019 RWC)

Sam Costelow – Pencoed | Scarlets (4 caps)

Gareth Davies – Newcastle Emlyn | Scarlets (69 Caps) (2015 & 2019 RWC)

Rio Dyer – Risca | Dragons (9 caps)

Mason Grady – Barry | Cardiff Rugby (4 caps)

Leigh Halfpenny – Gorseinon | unattached (100 Caps) (2011 & 2019 RWC)

George North – Llangefni | Ospreys (114 Caps) (2011, 2015 & 2019 RWC)

Louis Rees-Zammit – Rumney | Gloucester Rugby (27 caps)

Nick Tompkins – Old Elthamians | Saracens (28 caps)

Johnny Williams – Rams | Scarlets (6 caps)

Liam Williams – Waunarlwydd | Penlan | Kubota Spears (85 Caps) (2015 & 2019 RWC)

Tomos Williams – Treorchy | Cardiff Rugby (48 Caps) (2019 RWC)