So, just how do you replace the leadership experience 434 worth of Test caps brings to the Wales World Cup party?
That is the dilemma Warren Gatland is wrestling with as he looks to find the right man to lead his team into battle at this autumn's global showpiece, when Wales lock horns with Australia, Fiji, Georgia and Portugal in the group stages and will look to set up a quarter-final showdown with either England or Argentina.
The decision of Gatland's Six Nations skipper Ken Owens to withdraw from the Welsh squad through injury exacerbates the captaincy issue.
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Two other ex-Wales skippers, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric, have retired from Wales duty. Another man who has led his country under Gatland, Cory Hill, has pulled out.
Rhys Webb, who has skippered the Ospreys and played well at the tail end of the Six Nations upon regaining his Wales spot, is also missing after being originally named in Gatland's squad.
Gatland still has other veterans he can turn to, but there is mounting talk he could spring a real surprise by elevating one of youngsters Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan into the captaincy role.
If so, it would mirror what Gatland did in 2011 with his out-of-the-blue call to ask Sam Warburton to lead the team which marched to the semi-finals. Gatland could even choose the two of them as co-captains.
With five major contenders suddenly out of the equation, these are the Wales captaincy candidates left.
Dewi Lake
This would have seemed totally inconceivable just 48 hours ago. But with Owens having pulled out, young tyro Lake suddenly looks nailed on for the hooker's jersey out in France.
He only has eight caps to his name, and a limited number of Ospreys appearances, but Lake has been viewed for some time as a Lion in the making.
Missed Wales' autumn games with a shoulder injury, then the Six Nations with knee trouble, but he is fit again and ready to make his mark at the World Cup.
Really fronted up against world champions South Africa during Wales' tour last year, showing leadership-by-example qualities as he scored a try in the opening Test and contributing heavily to the historic second Test victory, Wales' first on Springbok soil.
For what it's worth, he also has something very special on his CV, having captained Wales to an 8-7 under-20s win over New Zealand.
That's pedigree that will impress Gatland. The BBC and a national newspaper are each touting Lake as a shock contender for the role.
Former Wales star Chris Horsman says Lake is an option, describing him as "tenacious and fearless and represents the new breed of Welsh players".
Jac Morgan
The other Ospreys young gun in the frame. Morgan has one more cap to his name than Lake but it is being suggested he too could lead the side.
The BBC reckon a Lake-Morgan captaincy combination could be on the cards. This is an avenue Gatland went down in the summer Tests against South Africa and Argentina when he gave the joint leadership roles to Ellis Jenkins and Cory Hill.
Australia coach Eddie Jones has already announced he is picking two captains, albeit they are the more veteran variety in the form of Michael Hooper and James Slipper.
Gatland has confirmed he is considering co-captains. When asked if he would consider mirroring what he did with Warburton by naming a youngster again to lead the side, he replied: "Yes absolutely. We have time for that."
Morgan's issue is whether he makes the starting XV. Tipuric's absence opens up a place at openside flanker, but Leicester ace Tommy Reffell is also in the mix, while Gatland may choose a bulkier option at six.
Taulupe Faletau
From youngsters to veteran, no-one seems to be mentioning the No.8 great when it comes to captaincy options.
Quietly spoken, he doesn't seem a natural skipper, but when it comes to leading by example nobody does it better.
Gatland warned this week no-one is guaranteed a place in his starting team, an issue he needs to address when it comes to choosing his captain. But let's be realistic, Faletau is as close to a guarantee as you will get.
That alone makes him a genuine contender, not to mention the bags of experience gained from 100 Wales caps and five Tests for the Lions.
Dan Biggar
Another veteran, another contender, he was Wayne Pivac's Wales captain but interestingly Gatland opted to move in a different direction by taking the honour away from Biggar and handing it to Owens instead.
Because of the withdrawals, Biggar will be back in the mix. No-one will demonstrate more passion wearing the red jersey.
But Gatland plumped for Owen Williams as his No.10 towards the tail end of the Six Nations, while he also likes the extra creativity Gareth Anscombe supplies.
Biggar isn't guaranteed his place any more.
Adam Beard
He has been pack leader and one presumes he will start in France.
As such, he is clearly another in the mix. But if Exeter youngster Dafydd Jenkins makes real strides in the warm-up games with England and South Africa, and with Will Rowlands seemingly a shoo-in at lock, where might that leave Beard?
That will form part of Gatland's thinking.
Will Rowlands
Given he is leaving Welsh rugby, Rowlands still needs two caps in the warm-up games to hit the 25 mark and guarantee his place at the World Cup under WRU rules. However, presuming he does, Wales' player of the year in 2022 has made one of the second-row positions his own
Jamie Roberts singled out Racing 92-bound Rowlands as a potential captaincy candidate. The 31-year-old is far and away Wales' best lock with his absence felt keenly during a bitterly disappointing Six Nations campaign.
His leadership credentials stood out during the painful final throes of the Pivac era. He may not be as vocal as some of the others, but he leads by example and sets very high standards.
Dan Lydiate
Another left-field option. Vastly experienced with 68 caps to his name, he is far from certain of starting.
But Gatland loves him. Unlikely, but will be part of the conversation at least.
