Australia’s primary competitor in the Rugby World Cup’s pool stage, Wales, has encountered a significant setback with the news that their captain, Ken Owens, will be unable to participate in the tournament due to a back injury. Owens, a 36-year-old hooker, led Wales in the Six Nations and had hoped to partake in his fourth World Cup in France later this year.
Warren Gatland, the coach of Wales, expressed his disappointment for Owens, but praised his positive attitude. Gatland mentioned that Owens is not retiring from rugby and there is a possibility he may be available later in the tournament if the team faces injuries. However, Owens may require surgery for his back, as he is experiencing pain in his calf that hampers his running abilities. The injury is similar to one he had in 2021, but not as severe.
In light of Owens’ absence, Gatland considered adopting the strategy employed by Wallabies coach Eddie Jones in 2018, where co-captains were appointed to fill the leadership void. Gatland emphasized that no player in the squad is guaranteed a starting position and everyone will have opportunities. The decision on captaincy will depend on the support they receive and the possibility of having co-captains to share the responsibility. A leadership group will be assembled to address this.
Wales is currently ranked ninth in the world and is facing challenges with internal conflicts and retirements. Notably, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric, two prominent players, retired from Test rugby last month, while Cory Hill made himself unavailable for the World Cup. Sam Parry of Ospreys has been chosen to replace Owens in the squad, but injuries have also affected the availability of Josh Macleod and Will Davies-King.
In the upcoming World Cup, Wales will face Australia in a crucial Pool C match on September 25. Fiji, another team in Pool C, will view this as an opportunity to challenge a weakened Wales and potentially secure a spot in the quarter-finals alongside the Wallabies.
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Hasibur Rahaman is a passionate sports journalist. He covers everything from cricket to field hockey, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis of sporting events, both within India and on the international stage.
