Gatland names Wales World Cup squad full of British & Irish Lions

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Gatland names Wales World Cup squad full of British & Irish Lions

Warren Gatland will have extensive British & Irish Lions experience to call on in his Wales squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

The squad selected by Gatland, who will lead The British & Irish Lions to South Africa in 2021, was announced on Sunday.

Alun Wyn Jones, who became the first player in the professional era to play in nine consecutive British & Irish Lions Tests in New Zealand in 2017, has featured in three World Cups and will lead his side out in Japan.

He is joined by Ross Moriarty, Ken Owens and Justin Tipuric, who featured in that decisive third and final Test against the Wallabies in 2013 as the Lions claimed an historic series win, in the forward line.

In the backs Dan Biggar, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Liam Williams all make the cut.

In all, the squad possesses 13 players with World Cup experience and comprises of 18 forwards and 13 backs.

“Selection is always the toughest part of the job and that is especially true come RWC time,” said Wales head coach Gatland.

“Reducing the squad down to 31 has been extremely hard especially when you look at the depth we have created and the amount of the work the training squad have put in, for some, 14 weeks of training.

“We are really happy with the final 31, we feel there is an excellent blend to the squad, in terms of talent, experience and age profile and we are all incredibly excited about heading to Japan and what lies ahead.

“These players have performed and delivered for Wales and deserve the opportunity to represent their nation at the game’s showpiece tournament.”

Wales 2019 Rugby World Cup squad

FORWARDS

Jake Ball (Scarlets)

Adam Beard (Ospreys)

Rhys Carre (Saracens)

James Davies (Scarlets)

Elliot Dee (Dragons)

Ryan Elias (Scarlets)

Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs)

Cory Hill (Dragons)

Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)

Wyn Jones (Scarlets)

Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues)

Ross Moriarty (Dragons)

Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues)

Ken Owens (Scarlets)

Aaron Shingler (Scarlets)

Nicky Smith (Ospreys)

Justin Tipuric (Ospreys)

Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)

BACKS                                    

Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues)

Hallam Amos (Cardiff Blues)

Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints)

Aled Davies (Ospreys)

Gareth Davies (Scarlets)

Jonathan Davies (Scarlets)

Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets)

George North (Ospreys)

Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets)

Rhys Patchell (Scarlets)

Owen Watkin (Ospreys)

Liam Williams (Saracens)

Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues)

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