Rugby World Cup squad selection

Wales World Cup squad:

Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Lloyd Burns (Dragons), Huw Bennett, Ryan Bevington, Adam Jones, Paul James (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets, Craig Mitchell (Exeter), Bradley Davies, Sam Warburton (Blues), Luke Charteris, Danny Lydiate, Toby Faletau (Dragons), Ryan Jones, Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Andy Powell (Sale Sharks).

Backs: Michael Phillips (Bayonne), Lloyd Williams (Blues), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Blues), James Hook (Perpignan), Jonathan Davies, Stephen Jones, Rhys Priestland, Scott Williams (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), Lee Byrne (Clermont Auvergne), Aled Brew (Dragons), Shane Williams (Ospreys), George North (Scarlets).

Gatland explains French selection

 

WALES coach Warren Gatland explain his decision to leave Martyn Williams out of his World Cup squad. Veteran flanker Williams now looks set to be stranded on 99 caps after Gatland named the 30 players who will travel to New Zealand. Williams and Josh Turnbull were both left out after the selectors chose to go for a 16-14 split between forwards and backs. That means the Welsh squad will have no specialist openside cover for Sam Warburton, who was named captain of the squad. Andy Powell was the surprise inclusion in the forwards, while the decision to take an extra back means Dragons winger Aled Brew also gets the nod. Meanwhile, Gavin Henson’s hopes of making the stand-by list are over after Gatland revealed he will now be out for 12 weeks.

Gatland also admitted selecting prop Gethin Jenkins was a risk as he continues to struggle with a calf problem. The Lions star is almost certain to miss the tournament opener against South Africa but he should be fit for the second match against Samoa. Richard Hibbard, who was not named in the squad, is out for three weeks but could be called up as a replacement.