The 2023 Rugby World Cup is now less than four months away, with the world's best teams naming their provisional squads as anticipation builds ahead of the long-awaited tournament.
Warren Gatland will lead Wales to a fourth global tournament and will be looking to defy the odds to repeat his previous successes, which saw his side reach semi-finals in 2011 and 2019, as well as a quarter-final in 2015. After a dismal Six Nations and a miserable autumn campaign before it, Gatland's men will be up against it but could still venture deep into the competition due to the pecularity surrounding the draw for this year's tournament.
The Wales boss named his preliminary 54-man training squad for the World Cup earlier this month, with the returning Cory Hill and surprise names including Ospreys' Cai Evans and former England international Henry Thomas all involved. However, there was no room for Joe Hawkins, deemed ineligible to play for his country following his summer move to Exeter Chiefs, nor the likes of Wyn Jones, Leon Brown and Bradley Roberts.
