Wales leave Joe Hawkins out of World Cup squad but select Will Rowlands

Wales have omitted Joe Hawkins from their preliminary World Cup training squad. The Ospreys centre has been capped five times since making his international debut last November, but doubts were cast over the 20-year-old’s eligibility following his decision to join Exeter next season.

Hawkins falls short of the 25-cap clause for players plying their trade outside of Wales, and the Welsh Rugby Union had to decide whether he signed a contract with Exeter prior to making his debut. If he had done, Hawkins would still be eligible for international rugby because he was an uncapped player.

The forward Will Rowlands has been named in a 54-player training squad for the tournament which starts in France in September. Rowlands, who will leave the Dragons for Paris-based Racing 92 in December, has won 23 caps and could reach the qualifying mark in pre-World Cup friendlies against England and South Africa.

There was no room for Scarlets prop Wyn Jones, who was part of the British & Irish Lions squad in 2021, while the Ospreys centre Owen Watkin also misses out.

Ten uncapped players have been named in the squad, including Montpellier prop Henry Thomas who won seven caps for England, with his last appearance coming in 2014.

Wales’s preliminary training squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup

Forwards Rhys Carre, Corey Domachowski, Kemsley Mathias, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Eliott Dee, Ryan Elias, Dewi Lake, Ken Owens, Keiron Assiratti, Tomas Francis, Will Davies-King, Dillon Lewis, Henry Thomas, Adam Beard, Ben Carter, Rhys Davies, Cory Hill, Dafydd Jenkins, Alun Wyn Jones, Will Rowlands, Christ Tshiunza, Teddy Williams, Taine Basham, Taulupe Faletau, Dan Lydiate, Josh Macleod, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Justin Tipuric, Aaron