Wales rugby squad LIVE: World Cup announcement reaction as Warren Gatland names 33-man squad

The 33-man squad is set to be unveiled as Wales look to bounce back after a disappointing Six Nations

Steve Borthwick left pondering World Cup squad after Wales loss

Warren Gatland prepares to name his 33-man Wales rugby squad for the Rugby World Cup in France. The announcement comes just days after his side suffered a thumping 52-16 warm-up defeat to South Africa in Cardiff.

Jac Morgan looks likely to captain the side having done so in two of their three warm-up games but Wales already have to contend with a host of injuries as they look to bounce back from a disappointing Six Nations performance.

Fly-half Gareth Anscombe, winger Alex Cuthbert and No 8 Taulupe Faletau have not featured in any of the three preparation games. Dan Biggar and Liam Williams also missed the clash with South Africa while there are concerns, too, at hooker after injuries sustained by Dewi Lake and Ryan Elias against England.

Wales reached the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup - held in Japan - losing out to eventual winners South Africa in the semi-finals.

Follow all the updates and reaction below:

Wales Rugby World Cup 2023 squad

• Warren Gatland names his 33-man squad for the World Cup in France
• Wales head into the announcement after being thumped 52-16 by South Africa on Saturday
• Wales’ World Cup squad announced with Alex Cuthbert missing out
• Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake named Wales co-captains for Rugby World Cup

[21 August 2023 09:31 · Luke Baker]

Jac Morgan in line to captain Wales at Rugby World Cup

Jac Morgan looks set to be named as Wales captain for the Rugby World Cup.

The 23-year-old Ospreys flanker led Wales in two of their three warm-up Tests, and undoubtedly occupies pole position.

The waiting game for Wales’ World Cup hopefuls will end just after 11am when Warren Gatland’s 33-man squad is unveiled.

If, as expected, Morgan lands the job, he would follow previous Wales skippers like Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones and Gareth Thomas in captaining his country on the sport’s biggest stage.

Memories would also be evoked of Warburton being appointed as a 22-year-old for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, when Gatland masterminded a run to the semi-finals.

[21 August 2023 09:26 · Mike Jones]

Wales rugby squad announcement

Welcome to our live coverage of Wales’ Rugby World Cup squad announcement.

Warren Gatland is set to name his 33-man group at 12pm and we’ll be here with all the build-up and reaction.