RWC squads 2023

[sparky]

@Bones Good to hear your club is bucking the trend. I can think of two or three clubs near me that would tell a similar story, even if overall playing numbers in England are significantly down.

Rugby union participation England 2024| Statista

How many individuals play rugby union in England? In 2024, there were around 240,000 participants in the sport.

[mariner4life]

England turned up to 2007 looking old and a bit shit, and got pumped early. They then went on to not only make the final, but come within inches of stealing it. World Cups are funny things

Will top their pool. Will get a very winnable quarter. Then its semi final rugby where being tough and keeping it tight gives you every chance (especially after their opponents have played a huge QF). Not even close to writing them off yet.

[Stargazer]

Fiji

Props

Eroni Mawi {27, Saracens, 23}

Peni Ravai {33, Queensland Reds, 39}

Jone Koroiduadua {24, Fijian Drua, 0}

Mesake Doge {30, Fijian Drua, 9}

Luke Tagi {26, Provence Rugby, 7}

Samu Tawake {26, Fijian Drua, 2}

Hookers

Tevita Ikanivere {23, Fijian Drua, 7}

Sam Matavesi {31, Northampton Saints, 24}

Zuriel Togiatama {24, Fijian Drua, 2}

Locks

Isoa Nasilasila {23, Fijian Drua, 5}

Temo Mayanavanua {25, Northampton Saints, 9}

Lock/Backrow

Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta {25, Fijian Drua, 3}

Albert Tuisue {30, Gloucester Rugby, 17}

Lekima Tagitagivalu {27, Section Paloise Bearn Pyrenees, 2}

Backrow

Levani Botia {34, La Rochelle, 23}

Vilive Miramira {24, Fijian Drua, 1}

Meli Derenalagi {24, Fijian Drua, 2}

Viliame Mata {31, Edinburgh, 24}

Halfback

Frank Lomani {27, Fijian Drua, 24}

Peni Matawalu {26, Fijian Drua, 5}

Halfback/Flyhalf

Simione Kuruvoli {24, Fijian Drua, 5}

Flyhalf

Caleb Muntz {23, Fijian Drua, 2}

Flyhalf/Center

Teti Tela {32, Fijian Drua, 5}

Inside/Wing

Josua Tuisova {29, Racing 92, 19}

Inside/Outside/Wing

Semi Radradra {31, Bristol Bears, 13}

Outside/Wing

Waisea Nayacalevu {33, Toulon, 38}

Iosefo Masi {25, Fijian Drua, 1}

Wing/Fullback

Selesitino Ravutaumada {23, Fijian Drua, 3}

Wing

Vinaya Habosi {23, Racing 92, 4}

Jiuta Wainiqolo {24, Toulon, 6}

Wing/Inside/Outside

Kalaveti Ravouvou {25, Fijian Drua, 4}

Fullback/Outside

Sireli Maqala {23, Bayonne, 3}

Ilaisa Droasese {23, Fijian Drua, 2}

Waisea Nayacalevu will captain the Flying Fijians at the Rugby World Cup while Jone Koroiduadua is the only uncapped player named in the team.

Vashneel Prasad  /  Aug 7, 2023

Flying Fijians 33-member squad named for 2023 Rugby World Cup in France - Fiji Rugby Union

[Bones]

@Stargazer They should have just put /wing after everyone.

[Tim]

@mariner4life Argentina may well beat them in that pool.

[Catogrande]

@Tim said in RWC squads 2023:

@mariner4life Argentina may well beat them in that pool.

All too possible.

[sparky]

No Pollard or Am for the Boks.

[sparky]

Gee how many loose forwards do the Boks need?

[Stargazer]

Springbok Rugby World Cup squad:

Forwards:

Props: Steven Kitshoff (Ulster – 74 caps, 10 points), Vincent Koch (Cell C Sharks – 45 caps, 0 points), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers – 61 caps, 5 points), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks – 19 caps, 0 points), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92 – 61 caps, 5 points).

Hookers: Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks – 60 caps, 60 points), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears – 61 caps, 75 points).

Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks – 112 caps, 25 points), Jean Kleyn (Munster – 2 caps, 0 points), Marvin Orie (Perpignan – 14 caps, 0 points), RG Snyman (Munster – 26 caps, 5 points).

Loose Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz – 69 caps, 30 points), Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92 – 75 caps, 45 points), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs – 33 caps, 25 points), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls – 12 caps, 0 points), Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby – 68 caps, 15 points), Jasper Wiese (Leicester – 22 caps, 5 points).

Utility Forwards: Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 0 points), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat – 65 caps, 15 points).

Backs:

Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles – 48 caps, 44 points), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks – 12 caps, 12 points), Cobus Reinach (Montpelllier – 25 caps, 45 points), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks – 4 caps, 0 points).

Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 45 points), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers – 31 caps, 36 points).

Centres: Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights – 72 caps, 50 points), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins – 13 caps, 0 points), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles – 61 caps, 60 points).

Outside Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls – 9 caps, 50 points), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath – 25 caps, 81 points), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls – 86 caps, 65 points), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks – 38 caps, 115 points), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls – 6 caps, 10 points).

Flyhalf Handre Pollard (calf), Lukhanyo Am (knee) and Lood de Jager (chest problem) have been placed on standby with six other players. The Springbok coaches were hopeful that they may return to full training before the start of the tournament and be available for call-up in the event of injury.

The squad comprises 19 forwards and 14 backline players.

Nienaber also announced that nine players would be placed on standby – five of whom will travel with the team to Cardiff and London for their last two World Cup warm-up matches against Wales (19 August) and New Zealand (25 August).

The nine players are Am (centre), Joseph Dweba (hooker), De Jager (lock), Jean-Luc du Preez (utility forward), Thomas du Toit (prop), Herschel Jantjies (scrumhalf), Pollard (flyhalf), Evan Roos (No 8 ) and Gerhard Steenekamp (prop). The five travelling to the UK on Saturday are Dweba, Du Toit, Du Preez, Pollard and Am.

Aug 7, 2023

Nienaber names youth and experience in exciting RWC squad

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named 21 players with Rugby World Cup experience (nine of whom will be appearing at their third Rugby World Cup) when he revealed the defending champion’s squad of 33 players for the 2023 edition in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

[Daffy Jaffy]

19/14 split. Nearly as many Halfbacks (4) as we have loose Forwards!

[Daffy Jaffy]

Boks look like they are being knighted by royalty -

[sparky]

@Daffy-Jaffy Do they still have to remember the name of Dr Craven’s dog?

[MiketheSnow]

2 hookers and 4 scrum halves

Very interesting

[DaGrubster]

Some big omissions from the boks. Kolisi will be miles off the pace I would have thought. Out in the qtrs

[Billy Tell]

@DaGrubster said in RWC squads 2023:

Some big omissions from the boks. Kolisi will be miles off the pace I would have thought. Out in the qtrs

We do love to temp fate. I’ve watched all world cups and I’ve learnt never to take anything for granted.

[Smuts]

@sparky if they forget they get bliksemed

[Bovidae]

@sparky said in RWC squads 2023:

Gee how many loose forwards do the Boks need?

And only 5 props!

[Bovidae]

@MiketheSnow said in RWC squads 2023:

2 hookers and 4 scrum halves

Fourie is their 3rd hooker, and another loose forward.

[reprobate]

Interesting Saffas eh. Good forwards but no established 10 without Pollard, and no Am... Do they have a crack with Libbok and use the quality wingers they have, or revert to just kicking it non-stop and beating people up with the forwards and a 6-2 bench. Probably the latter.

[pakman]

Wonder if Rassie has cunning plan. Pollard needs to be there for quarter, which is two months away.