Cory Hill has become the latest player to withdraw from Wales' World Cup training squad after accepting a contract offer from outside of Wales.
WalesOnline revealed on Thursday night Hill was heading for the exit door, with official confirmation coming on Friday morning,
The second-row had been recalled by Warren Gatland after two years in the international wilderness while playing for Japanese club Yokohama Cannon Eagles.
Following the reduction of the 60-cap rule to just 25, the 31-year-old was eligible to play for his country again despite not having a contract in Wales.
Hill had been looking for a move back to Wales. However, none of the regions were in a position to sign the former Cardiff and Dragons player.
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As such, the only contract on offer was one overseas, with a stipulation being that he would be available for his new club, rather than Wales at the World Cup.
When his withdrawal was confirmed, Hill expressed his disappointment at missing out on a second World Cup, while also insisting that he hadn't retired from the international game.
He said: “I’m gutted to be leaving the squad, but an opportunity has come up and I need to take it for my family. Wishing the boys all the best at the World Cup and I hope to be back in a Wales jersey in the future.”
The former Dragons and Cardiff star left Welsh rugby under a dark cloud back in 2021 after being involved in an unsavoury incident, along with two other men, which resulted in a woman's home getting damaged.
He now becomes the latest player to leave Gatland's training squad early. Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb all retired from international rugby after being named in the wider squad, while Rhys Carre was dropped after failing to meet individual performance targets.
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