Warren Gatland names 42-man World Cup training squad

Credit: PA Images

Wales have named an experienced 42-man training squad to prepare for the 2019 Rugby World Cup - which includes 18 players with World Cup experience and two uncapped players.

Thirty-six of Wales’ 2019 Grand Slam squad are named in the training squad which is made up of 23 forwards and 19 backs.

Preparations will begin by the middle to end of June which will include their first overseas training camp in the Swiss Alps.

They will then return to Cardiff for more preparation ahead of back-to-back fixtures against England in August and then travel to Turkey for warm-weather training.

Wales will face Ireland in Cardiff on 31 August and announce their 31-man RWC squad the following week. They then face the return fixture in Dublin on 7 September.

Uncapped Rhys Carre joins fellow props Leon Brown, Rob Evans, Tomas Francis, Wyn Jones, Samson Lee, Dillon Lewis and Nicky Smith.

Ken Owens, who featured for Wales at the 2011 and 2015 RWCs is named alongside Elliot Dee and Ryan Elias.

Alun Wyn Jones, who has appeared in three of the game’s showpiece tournaments (’07, ’11, ’15) features alongside Jake Ball, Adam Beard, Bradley Davies and Cory Hill.

Wing Owen Lane (L) is included in Wales' training squad. Credit: PA

Owen Lane, who played for Wales U20 with Carre, is one of eight back-three players included alongside Josh Adams, Hallam Amos, Steff Evans, Leigh Halfpenny, George North (who played in both the 2011 and 2015 tournaments), Jonah Holmes and Liam Williams.

Gatland, who became the Wales coach in 2007, is stepping down from his role after the campaign.

He says he has received a number of approaches about a possible post-World Cup job but insists England have not contacted him.

The New Zealander says that he has not spoken to England, who have been linked with recruiting him as Eddie Jones' potential long-term successor.

Warren Gatland has led the British and Irish Lions on the last two tours. Credit: PA

Gatland is also a firm favourite to coach the 2021 British and Irish Lions in South Africa - it would be his third successive tour as Lions boss if appointed.

But after naming a 42-man Wales World Cup training squad on Tuesday, he added: "This is not about the Lions, this is about Wales. I'm not going to speak about that."