Wales announce Japan Rugby World Cup squad
The Wales squad heading to the Rugby World Cup in Japan has been announced.
Lock Cory Hill has been named in the group despite suffering from a leg fracture, while fly-half Rhys Patchell also features following his try-scoring exploits against Ireland on Saturday.
Scarlets props Rob Evans and Samson Lee did not make the cut, with Saracens loosehead Rhys Carre, who made his Test debut against Ireland, among five players chosen in that position.
The names of the players who have made it into the squad were announced by their community clubs.
Following the announcement, Warren Gatland said there are as many as six or seven teams capable of winning the tournament.
"I think this is the most open World Cup we've had for a long time. There are six or seven teams capable of winning the World Cup.
"You always need a little bit of luck. You get to the quarter-finals and then take it one game at a time.
"I think it (squad) is good enough to win (the World Cup). We go there with a lot of confidence."
Squad in full:
Backs: Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues), Hallam Amos (Cardiff Blues), Dan Biggar (Northampton), 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).
Forwards: Jake Ball (Scarlets), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Rhys Carre (Saracens), James Davies (Scarlets), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter), 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). 011431 SEP 19
Gatland has opted for a split of 13 backs and 18 forwards, but Evans and Lee, who have 77 caps between them, miss out along with the likes of Jarrod Evans, Owen Lane, Scott Williams and Bradley Davies from Wales' training group.
Gatland added: "When we decided to go with the five props, one of the big discussion points was how durable the props were.
"Rob hasn't trained a lot in the lead-up to the World Cup matches. He came in with a shoulder injury, then he picked up a neck injury and a few back issues, so he hadn't played a lot.
"Samson has missed a few campaigns through injury, and had a hamstring issue during the campaign.
"Someone like Rhys Carre has made incredible progress. He's dropped 10kgs, I thought he did well on Saturday."
It will be captain Alun Wyn Jones' fourth World Cup, with wing George North and hooker Ken Owens featuring in the tournament for a third time.
Wales' opening World Cup game is against Georgia in Toyota City on September 23, followed by Australia in Tokyo six days later.
The tournament will be Gatland's farewell from a role he has filled since 2008, during which time Wales have won four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams and reached a World Cup semi-final.