Ken Owens: Veteran Wales hooker ruled out of World Cup

Veteran Wales hooker Ken Owens is retired of the 2023 Rugby World Cup aft failing to retrieve from a backmost injury.

Owens, capped 91 times, has not retired from Test rugby, though astatine 36 years old, his Wales aboriginal looks doubtful.

Scarlets backmost enactment Josh Macleod and Cardiff prop Will Davies-King person besides been released from Warren Gatland's grooming squad owed to injury.

Ospreys hooker Sam Parry, 31, has been added to Warren Gatland's World Cup grooming squad.

Gatland said it was "disappointing" to suffer the 3 players but said they each could beryllium disposable aboriginal successful the twelvemonth for a imaginable call-up, should Wales endure injuries.

"Ken has a niggle successful his backmost which helium needs immoderate clip retired to sort. Josh got the wounded connected nine work - we were hoping to beryllium capable to negociate it but specializer appraisal showed that wasn't possible.

"Will picked up the ft wounded successful grooming with america which we were managing but past helium got re-injured truthful has been released."

More to follow.