By Paul Jones
Wales will be without Taulupe Faletau and Alex Cuthbert, who are among five players from the Wales squad who will not travel for the team’s next training camp in Turkey between July 23-31.
Faletau is still dealing with a calf issue which ruled him out of Wales’ previous training camp in Switzerland, and the 32-year-old’s fitness will now be closely monitored with time running out ahead of the tournament in France in September.
Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau will not travel as part of Warren Gatland’s 43-man squad for the World Cup training camp to Turkey 🏉#BBCRugby
— BBC ScrumV (@BBCScrumV) July 19, 2023
Wales previously announced that Cuthbert and Owen Williams had not travelled to Switzerland due to personal reasons. The two other players missing from the squad for Turkey are Johnny Williams and Joe Roberts.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland will announce his final 33-player squad for the World Cup after Wales’ warm-up matches.
‘Sad’ Sir Gareth Edwards troubled by Taulupe Faletau news | @Steffan_Thomas1 https://t.co/CiZSZ0NEfK
— WalesOnline Rugby (@WalesRugby) July 19, 2023
Gatland has named nine uncapped players in a 43-man squad for pre-Rugby World Cup warm-up matches next month, including former England prop Henry Thomas.
Thomas, 31, won seven caps for England in the 2013-14 season but qualifies for Wales through his father. He has been able to take advantage of the same World Rugby eligibility rule that allowed Jean Kleyn to play for South Africa this month having previously represented Ireland.
Taulupe Faletau, Johnny Williams, Joe Roberts, Owen Williams and Alex Cuthbert will miss the eight-day trip to Turkey 🏉#BBCRugby
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) July 19, 2023
Forwards: Corey Domachowski, Kemsley Mathias, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias, Dewi Lake, Sam Parry, Keiron Assiratti, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Henry Thomas, Adam Beard, Ben Carter, Rhys Davies, Dafydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Christ Tshiunza, Teddy Williams, Taine Basham, Dan Lydiate, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright
Backs: Gareth Davies, Kieran Hardy, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar, Sam Costelow, Mason Grady, Max Llewellyn, George North, Nick Tompkins, Keiran Williams, Josh Adams, Rio Dyer, Cai Evans, Leigh Halfpenny, Louis Rees-Zammit, Tom Rogers, Liam Williams.
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