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Wales RWC Training Squad Announced
Wales Rugby Union announced their 47 man strong training squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, including 17 players with Rugby World Cup experience and 9 uncapped players.
The players will embark on an intensive preparation regime over the coming months before the final 31-man Rugby World Cup squad is announced on 31 August. Gethin Jenkins will be aiming to feature in a fourth World Cup for his country and is named as one of eight props along with Scarlets trio Rob Evans, Rhodri Jones and Samson Lee, Ospreys pair Nicky Smith and Aaron Jarvis, Paul James and the uncapped Tomas Francis.
Wales’ second row contingent from the 2015 RBS 6 Nations, Alun Wyn Jones, Jake Ball, Luke Charteris and Bradley Davies are all included along with the uncapped pair of Bath lock Dominic Day and Wales U20 captain Rory Thornton. Osprey Thornton, who has previously trained with the national side will link up with the squad following the conclusion of his U20 commitments.
Captain Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate and Taulupe Faletau who all featured in the 2011 RWC are included along with Osprey trio James King, Dan Baker and Justin Tipuric as well as uncapped Gloucester flanker Ross Moriarity. There are four uncapped players included in the backs with Gareth Anscombe, Newport Gwent Dragons pair Jack Dixon and Tyler Morgan and Ospreys wing Eli Walker all named.
At scrum-half, Six Nations squad members Gareth Davies, Mike Phillips and Rhys Webb are joined by the recalled Lloyd Williams. Also European Champions Cup winner Leigh Halfpenny, Six Nations squad members Hallam Amos, Alex Cuthbert, George North and Liam Williams, are joined by the recalled, Cardiff Blues bound wing, Tom James.
“As a coaching team we are extremely happy with the blend of the squad in terms of the experience we are able to include as well as the young talent that has really impressed us,” said Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland, “The easy part for the players has been done in terms of being selected, the hard work will begin from day one with a huge schedule of preparation ahead of them.” “The players will face a tough couple of months of intensive training, we will be taking them to Switzerland, Qatar and Poland and I can assure everyone they are no holiday camps.”
“We believe the longer we are together the better we perform and this summer of preparation will give us every opportunity to be at our best come Rugby World Cup.”
See the Wales Rugby training squad in action during Dove Men Tests this August where they’ll take on Ireland and Italy ahead of RWC and final squad selection.
