Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool C squads: Os Lobos and Lelos confirm line-ups

Portugal and Georgia have become the final teams in Pool C to name their squads for Rugby World Cup 2023 with 17 of the 33-man Os Lobos squad playing their club rugby in France.

While none of Portugal's squad have experienced a Rugby World Cup before in a playing capacity, plenty of their rivals do know what it is like to play on the game's biggest stage.

Georgia coach Levan Maisashvili, for example, has named 15 players who have played at a previous Rugby World Cup, while Wales head coach Warren Gatland has selected 17 players with past tournament experience in his line-up. 

Gatland's co-captains, Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan, though are two that will be making their debuts. 

Australia coach Eddie Jones has named La Rochelle second-row Will Skelton as captain of a young Wallabies squad for RWC 2023.

Three players, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Jorgensen and Blake Schoupp were uncapped at the time the 33-player squad was announced, but there was no room for Michael Hooper or Quade Cooper.

Meanwhile, Toulon centre Waisea Nayacalevu will captain Fiji at RWC 2023 after coach Simon Raiwalui named his 33-player squad for the tournament in France.

Nayacalevu is one of nine players with previous Rugby World Cup experience, while there was also space for prop Jone Koroiduadua, who won his first caps in the warm-up matches against France and England.

GEORGIA

Lelos coach Maisashvili has named 19 forwards and 14 backs in a squad that will be captained by centre Merab Sharikadze.

Fifteen of the players included have appeared at a previous Rugby World Cup, with Lasha Khmaladze and Aleksandre Todua set to play at the showpiece tournament for a fourth time.

Of the 33 players selected, 15 play for back-to-back Rugby Europe Super Cup winners Black Lion.

Hooker Giorgi Chkoidze misses out on selection due to an injury he picked up in the warm-up match against Romania earlier this month.

Maisashvili said: “We have been observing these rugby players for a long time, we know their abilities well, and I believe that the best 33 have been selected at this stage.”

Forwards: Nika Abuladze, Beka Gigashvili, Guram Gogichashvili, Luka Japaridze, Mikheil Nariashvili, Guram Papidze, Shalva Mamukashvili, Luka Nioradze, Tengiz Zamtaradze, Vladimer Chachanidze, Nodar Cheishvili, Lasha Jaiani, Konstantine Mikautadze, Mikheil Gachechiladze, Beka Gorgadze, Luka Ivanishvili, Tornike Jalagonia, Beka Saginadze, Giorgi Tsutskiridze.

Backs: Gela Aprasidze, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Tengiz Peranidze, Tedo Abzhandadze, Luka Matkava, Demur Tapladze, Aleksandre Todua, Merab Sharikadze, Tornike Kakhoidze, Modebadze Mirian, Akaki Tabutsadze, Davit Niniashvili, Lasha Khmaladze, Giorgi Kveseladze.

PORTUGAL

While the current Portugal squad has no previous Rugby World Cup experience due to the 16-year gap between their last tournament appearance and this, there are still some connections between 2007 and now.

Jeronimo Portela will follow in his father’s footsteps and play at a Rugby World Cup having been named as one of the two fly-halves selected by head coach Patrice Lagisquet, a Rugby World Cup veteran himself (with his native France).

Miguel Portela started two games at centre and came off the bench in another when Portugal made their debut on the Rugby World Cup stage a generation ago. Current Portugal assistant coach and former scrum-half Luis Pissarra was a team-mate of his during that tournament.

Portugal have a wealth of attacking threats in their backline but the return from injury of star winger, Raffaele Storti, will come as a relief to their supporters. Storti played his first match since March at the weekend when Portugal lost 30-17 to Australia A.

Storti (Beziers) is one of 17 players who play their club rugby in France.

Forwards: António Machado Santos, David Costa, Diogo Hasse Ferreira, Francisco Fernandes, Francisco Bruno, Anthony Alves, Duarte Diniz, Lionel Campergue, Mike Tadjer, Duarte Torgal, José Madeira, José Maria Rebelo Andrade, Steevy Cerqueira, Martim Belo, Nicolas Martins, Rafael Simões, João Granate, Thibault de Freitas, David Wallis.

Backs: João Belo, Pedro Lucas, Samuel Marques, Jerónimo Portela, Joris Moura, José Lima, Tomás Appleton, Pedro Bettencourt, Rodrigo Marta, Vincent Pinto, Manuel Cardoso Pinto, Raffaele Storti, Nuno Sousa Guedes, Simão Bento.

WALES

Centre George North, Wales’ most-capped senior men’s back with 114 appearances, will compete in his fourth Rugby World Cup.

Fly-half Dan Biggar, Wales’ second most-capped back behind North with 109 appearances, scrum-half Gareth Davies, tight-head prop Tomas Francis, blindside flanker Dan Lydiate and full-backs Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams will all compete in their third tournament. 

Loose-head prop Corey Domachowski and former England tight-head prop Henry Thomas are included in Wales' squad having won their first senior caps for Wales during the Summer Nations Series matches this August.

Twenty-year-old second-row Dafydd Jenkins is the youngest member of the squad, whose average age is 27.

“Over the past three months, the whole group of 48 players in the wider training squad has been outstanding in terms of attitude and effort, so having to reduce the squad down to the final 33 has been really hard and there have been some close final decisions in the last 36 hours," said Gatland. 

“But we can only take 33 players and those we have selected we think offer a good combination in terms of talent and experience."

Forwards: Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Corey Domachowski, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Henry Thomas, Dewi Lake, Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias, Adam Beard, Dafydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Christ Tshiunza, Taine Basham, Dan Lydiate, Tommy Reffell, Jac Morgan, Taulupe Faletau,  Aaron Wainwright.

Backs: Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar, Sam Costelow, Johnny Williams, Nick Tompkins, Mason Grady, George North, Josh Adams, Rio Dyer, Louis Rees-Zammit, Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams.

FIJI

Captain Nayacalevu, La Rochelle star Levani Botia and Queensland Reds prop Peni Ravai have been selected for a third Rugby World Cup, while a further six players will be going to their second.

That means that 24 members of the 33-player squad will get their first taste of the showpiece tournament in France next month.

Fiji kicked off their RWC 2023 preparations with a 36-20 defeat of Tonga in Lautoka last month and backed that up with victories against Samoa and Japan on the road before an historic win against England at Twickenham.

Coach Raiwalui said: "There's a very good team spirit at the moment and a good feeling within the group."

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

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.

AUSTRALIA

Only eight of the 33 players called up by Jones for the trip to France have previous Rugby World Cup experience.

Centurion prop James Slipper has been selected for his fourth tournament, and is by far the most experienced player included in the squad. Captain Skelton, meanwhile, is set to feature in his second Rugby World Cup eight years after his first.

Jordan Petaia, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Taniela Tupou, Jordan Uelese and Nic White will also experience the showpiece tournament for a second time having played in Japan four years ago.

Jones said: "I’ve backed the young blokes because they earned it. Simple as that. I haven’t handed it to them. They grabbed it. It’s exciting for me to go to work each day with these guys who are just busting to improve, to learn and to get better.

"They want to succeed, and they will succeed and that excitement is rubbing off on everyone. We're in a good place."

Forwards: Angus Bell, Pone Fa'amausili, Zane Nonggorr, Blake Schoupp, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Dave Precki, Jordan Uelese, Richie Arnold, Nick Frost, Matt Philip, Will Skelton (captain), Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Josh Kemeny, Rob Leota, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini.

Backs: Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Tate McDermott, Nic White, Carter Gordon, Lalakai Foketi, Samu Kerevi, Izaia Perese, Jordan Petaia, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Marika Koroibete, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Suliasi Vunivalu, Ben Donaldson.