The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Rugby World Cup 2023 teams and squads

Tate McDermott and Angus Bell of Australia look on during The Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australia Wallabies at Forsyth Barr Stadium on August 05, 2023 in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

France will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup in September and October.

Below, you can find the full Rugby World Cup squads from every nation as they’re announced with a final deadline day for the 33-player squads of August 28. In 2019 teams were restricted to 31 players and the increase is due to more HIA expected at the tournament and longer stand down times.

The tournament was divided into four Pools of five teams, with the top two teams from each qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Pool A

New Zealand

The All Blacks named Brodie Retallick for a third Rugby World Cup despite a knee injury sustained during the Bledisloe Cup.

All Blacks great Richie McCaw announced New Zealand’s 33-man squad for France with Caleb Clarke and Leicester Fainga’anuku also included.

There was no room for Shaun Stevenson or Samipeni Finau overlooked.

Advertisement

Ethan Blackadder, who suffered a calf injury last month, and Braydon Ennor, who hurt his knee in the 23-20 win, also missed out due to injury, as did Joe Moody.

The squad has a combined 1493 caps, from Sam Whitelock’s 145 Tests to the most inexperienced, back-up halfback Cam Roigard, who has just one.

Whitelock will play at his fourth tournament, while Retallick, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Codie Taylor, Dane Coles and captain Sam Cane will head to their third.

Backs: Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Finlay Christie, Caleb Clarke, Leicester Fainga’anuku, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan, Anton Lienert-Brown, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga, Emoni Narawa, Cam Roigard, Aaron Smith, Mark Telea.

Forwards: Scott Barrett, Sam Cane (c), Dane Coles, Ethan de Groot, Shannon Frizell, Luke Jacobson, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Dalton Papalii, Brodie Retallick, Ardie Savea, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Talyor, Ofa Tuʻungafasi, Tupou Vaa’i, Sam Whitelock, Tamiati Williams.

France: TBC

Italy: TBC

Advertisement

Uruguay: TBC

Namibia: TBC

Pool B

South Africa

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi was included but other key players were left out because of injury, including influential five-eighth Handre Pollard and World Cup-winning centre Lukhanyo Am.

Kolisi had major knee surgery in April but South Africa are confident he will be fit in time for their first pool game against Scotland in Marseille on September. 10.

There are 12 newcomers but the Boks have kept the bulk of the side that won the World Cup in Japan four years ago.

Advertisement

Backs: Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Faf de Klerk, Andre Esterhuizen, Jaden Hendrikse, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie, Cobus Reinach, Damian Willemse, Grant Williams.

Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Deon Fourie, Steven Kitshoff, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx , Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Marvin Orie, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Duane Vermeulen, Jasper Wiese.

Ireland: TBC

Scotland

Jack Dempsey, who played for Australia at the 2019 World Cup, was picked for the Scots in their 33-man squad.

Captain Jamie Ritchie leads a selection comprising 19 forwards and 14 backs for a Pool B campaign that will see Scotland face South Africa, Tonga, Romania and Ireland.

Advertisement

Flanker Ritchie is one of 15 players to have appeared at a previous Rugby World Cup, with second rows Richie Gray and Grant Gilchrist, tighthead prop WP Nel, as well as stand-off Finn Russell, all set for a third tournament.

Backs: Darcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn, Chris Harris, Ben Healy, George Horne, Huw Jones, Ali Price, Cameron Redpath, Finn Russell, Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White.

Forwards: Ewan Ashman, Jamie Bhatti, Dave Cherry, Luke Crosbie, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Richie Gray, WP Nel, Jamie Ritchie (c), Pierre Schoeman, Javan Sebastian, Sam Skinner, Rory Sutherland, George Turner, Hamish Watson.

Tonga: TBC

Romania: TBC

Pool C

Advertisement

Wales: TBC

Australia

Eddie Jones reacted to the 0-4 start to his reign by blowing up the squad and starting again for the World Cup next month, ending the Test careers of Quade Cooper and Michael Hooper in the process.

French-based lock Will Skelton was named captain for the tournament with a demotion for James Slipper, while Australia’s longest-serving skipper Hooper was left out of the 33-man squad altogether. Tate McDermott will serve as Skelton’s deputy.

The team, with an average age of 26, an average Test caps of 20 and 25 players at their first RWC, is Australia’s least experienced since the 1991 World Cup, as Jones decided to go all in on youth. He has selected Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson as his flyhalf options – they have six Tests between them with five losses.

Props: Angus Bell, Pone Fa’amausili, Zane Nonggorr, Blake Schoupp, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou

Hookers: Matt Faessler, David Porecki, Jordan Uelese

Advertisement

Locks: Richie Arnold, Nick Frost, Matt Philip, Will Skelton (c)

Back-row: Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Rob Leota, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini

Scrumhalves: Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Tate McDermott (vc), Nic White

Flyhalves: Carter Gordon

Centres: Lalakai Foketi, Samu Kerevi, Izaia Perese, Jordan Petaia

Outside Backs: Andrew Kellaway, Marika Koroibete, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Suliasi Vunivalu

Utilities: Ben Donaldson, Josh Kemeny

Advertisement

Tom Lambert, James O’Connor and Folau Fainga’a added as “extra training members”.

Fiji 

Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui has opted for Fijian Drua duo Teti Tela and Caleb Muntz as his fly-half options after leaving out veteran Ben Volavola.

More than half of his squad played for the Drua in this year’s Super Rugby Pacific tournament.

Backs: Frank Lomani, Simi Kuruvoli, Peni Matawalu, Caleb Muntz, Teti Tela, Josua Tuisova, Semi Radradra, Waisea Nayacalevu, Iosefo Masi, Selesitino Ravutaumada, Vinaya Habosi, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Sireli Maqala, Ilaisa Droasese.

Forwards: Eroni Mawi, Peni Ravai, Jone Koroiduadua, Tevita Ikanivere, Sam Matavesi, Zuriel Togiatama, Mesake Doge, Luke Tagi, Samu Tawake, Isoa Nasilasila, Temo Mayanavanua, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Albert Tuisue, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Levani Botia, Vilive Mimramira, Meri Derenalagi, Viliame Mata.

Georgia: TBC

Advertisement

Portugal: TBC

Pool D

England

Henry Slade has been left out of England’s World Cup squad in an unexpected selection twist from head coach Steve Borthwick.

Slade has been an automatic pick in the midfield for much of the last six years, appearing in 30 of the past 37 Tests since the 2019 tournament, but has been overlooked for the 33-man group.

Backs: Henry Arundell, Danny Care, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Ollie Lawrence, Max Malins, Joe Marchant, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Alex Mitchell, Anthony Watson, Ben Youngs.

Forwards: Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Ben Earl, Jamie George, Ellis Genge, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Joe Marler, George Martin,  David Ribbans, Bevan Rodd, Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart, Billy Vunipola, Jack Walker, Jack Willis.

Advertisement

Japan 

Talismanic former captain Michael Leitch and hooker Shota Horie will travel to their fourth Rugby World Cup after being named in a Japan squad which also contains several players with Australian connections.

Loose forward Leitch, who captained Japan to the quarter-finals on home soil in 2019, and 37-year-old rake Horie were included in an initial 30-man party, to which Joseph will add three more players before the August 21 deadline.

The three additional players are likely to include at least a couple of locks, with Australian-born James Moore and Jack Cornelsen the only specialist second-row forwards in the squad named on Tuesday.

Other players with Australian roots who were included are loose forward Ben Gunter and centre Dylan Riley.

The squad included two uncapped players in prop Sione Halasili and scrumhalf Kenta Fukuda, while 17 of the players will be heading to their first World Cup.

Backs – Naoto Saito, Yutaka Nagare, Kenta Fukuda, Lee Seung-sin, Rikiya Matsuda, Jumpei Ogura, Ryoto Nakamura, Tomoki Osada, Shogo Nakano, Dylan Riley, Siosaia Fifita, Semisi Masirewa, Jone Naikabula, Lomano Lemeki, Kotaro Matsushima.

Advertisement

Forwards – Keita Inagaki, Craig Millar, Sione Halasili, Koo Ji-won, Shinnosuke Kakinaga, Asaeli Ai Valu, Shota Horie, Atsushi Sakate, Kosuke Horikoshi, James Moore, Jack Cornelsen, Shota Fukui, Kazuki Himeno, Michael Leitch, Ben Gunter.

Michael Leitch

Captain Michael Leitch. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Argentina

Argentina coach Michael Cheika has included rookie fullback Martin Bogado but will take only five props as he opted for an extra back in his selection that will travel to France.

Bogado made his Test debut against South Africa in the 24-13 loss last weekend, but has done enough to earn a ticket to the World Cup ahead of more experienced options.

That is especially so if the Australian sticks with wayward Santiago Carreras at five-eighth, though he also has experienced Nicolas Sanchez, who will go to a fourth World Cup, as an option.

Advertisement

Former Sevens player Rodrigo Isgro also got the nod along with rookie second row Pedro Rubiolo, two players who a few months ago may have thought their chances were slim.

There are a trio of halfbacks in Gonzalo Bertranou, Lautaro Bazan Velez and Tomas Cubelli plus a centre group that includes Santiago Chocobares, Lucio Cinti, Jeronimo de la Fuente and Matias Moroni.

The side will be captained by Julian Montoya, one of three hookers along with Agustin Creevy, who became the first Argentine to reach 100 caps last weekend, and Ignacio Ruiz.

But Cheika has taken a gamble with his front row. He has picked tightheads props Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Francisco Gomez Kodela and Joel Sclavi, but only two looseheads in Thomas Gallo and Eduardo Bello.

Chaparro and Sclavi have played as emergency looseheads and Argentina will bank on their flexibility to cover injuries.

Among the notable absentees are centre Matias Orlando and versatile back Santiago Cordero.

Backs: Gonzalo Bertranou, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Tomas Cubelli, Santiago Carreras, Nicolas Sanchez, Santiago Chocobares, Lucio Cinti, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Matias Moroni, Emiliano Boffelli, Juan Cruz Mallia, Mateo Carreras, Juan Imhoff, Rodrigo Isgro, Martin Bogado.

Advertisement

Forwards: Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Joel Sclavi, Thomas Gallo, Eduardo Bello, Julian Montoya, Agustin Creevy, Ignacio Ruiz, Matias Alemanno, Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Facundo Isa, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Santiago Grondona, Marcos Kremer, Rodrigo Bruni, Pedro Rubiolo

Samoa

Forwards Chris Vui and Michael Alaalatoa were named co-captains as Samoa named three former All Blacks and an ex-Wallaby star in their squad.

Bristol loose forward Vui and Leinster prop Alaalatoa were included in a 32-man squad for the tournament starting in France on September 9, with one player still to be confirmed.

Coach Seilala Mapuusa named former New Zealand internationals – fly-half Lima Sopoaga, flanker Steven Luatua and prop Charlie Faumuina – while fly-half Christian Leali’ifano represented Australia at the 2019 World Cup.

Backs: Neria Foma’i, Alai D’Angelo Leuila, Nigel Ah Wong, Ben Lam, Ed Fidow, Tumua Manu, Danny Toala, Ulupano Junior Seuteni, Duncan Paia’aua, Lima Sopoaga, Christian Leali’ifano, Jonathan Taumateine, Ereatara Enari, Melani Matavao.

Forwards: Fritz Lee, So’otala Fa’aso’o, Jordan Taufua, Alamanda Motuga, Miracle Fai’ilagi, Steven Luatua, Taleni Seu, Chris Vui (co-capt), Sam Slade, Theo McFarland, Brian Alainu’uese, Charlie Faumuina, Paul Alo-Emile, Michael Alaalatoa (co-capt), Jordan Lay, Seilala Lam, Sama Malolo, Luteru Tolai

Advertisement

Chile

Three places TBC.

Backs: Augusto Böhme, Javier Carrasco, Matías Dittus, Tomás Dussaillant, Javier Eissmann, Alfonso Escobar, Diego Escobar, Iñaki Gurruchaga, Pablo Huere, Esteban Inostroza, Salvador Lues, Raimundo Martínez, Santiago Pedrero, Clemente Saavedra, Augusto Sarmiento, Martín Sigren (c), Ignacio Silva.

Forwards: Iñaki Ayarza, Lukas Carvallo, Pablo Casas, Rodrigo Fernández, Matías Garafulic, Nicolás Garafulic, José Ignacio Larenas, Dimongo Saavedra, Marcelo Torrealba, Francisco Urroz, Franco Velarde, Benjamín Videla, Santiago Videla.

More Rugby content

close