An incredible XV of players who missed out on the Rugby World Cup

For all the happy players who travelled to Japan having made their country's Rugby World Cup squads, there are many left back home wondering what might have been.

Wouldn't it be great to see a bunch of the world's best players come together in one team?

Well, that's basically The Barbarians.

The Baa-Baa's will return to Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, November 16 to face FijI in the first international rugby match to be staged in the United Kingdom following the 2019 Rugby World Cup. 

Tickets are on general sale now from www.ticketmaster.co.uk/barbarians with a special early bird offer and 50 per cent off top price adult tickets for a limited time only. 

The European player of the year is possibly the most unlucky out of everyone, but has never been liked by Jones, earning his last cap in 2016 despite his consistency for Saracens.

Zebo’s exclusion is no surprise – but that doesn’t mean that the Racing 92 star won’t be annoyed that he hasn’t been considered. Joe Schmidt closed the door on Zebo the moment his move to Paris was announced before the 2017 autumn tests, and although the 29-year-old has produced some great rugby since arriving in the Top 14, Schmidt has shown no sign of calling a halt to Ireland’s unwritten rule around overseas selection.

Even with Jones' form having dropped off somewhat this season, the fact that a player regarded as one of Scotland's best attackers only 18 months ago wasn' involved in Japan was definitely surprising, given Jones has scored 10 tries in 23 Tests.

He has become a vital plug in the Bath defence, earning plaudits from Welsh coach Shaun Edwards for his rearguard action. However, it wasn’t enough for Roberts who had desperately hoped to be included in this wider party despite being left out of recent squads. Barring injuries to others, the international career of this great Lion appears over.

Knowing French rugby, it’s entirely possible that they just forgot to call up the winger. Few better sights than him in full-flow.

Cooper has been overlooked for selection in Australia’s 34-man squad for the Rugby Championship.

84-caps-worth of experience that makes him most unlucky to miss out.

A player that was also included in the initial training squad after a powerful season with Gloucester, but was not helped by Joe Marler’s return to the international set-up.

He is the obvious player here, but it is an injury that has ruined his chances of going to Japan rather than anything else. 

Perhaps the biggest shock on the list, and certainly the biggest gamble taken by a head coach. Franks is so experienced and has been part of both recent Rugby World Cup-winning campaigns.

Gregor Townsend has left the door ajar for Richie Gray to make the Rugby World Cup but the big lock is one of several notable names not in the Scotland coach’s training squad for the tournament in Japan. However, he certainly improved his chances after helping Toulouse to the Top 14 title.

This certainly caused a stir, mainly because Devin Toner has been the key to Ireland's successful lineout in recent years under Joe Schmidt, viewed as the first-aid kit to rectify any issues when the set-piece has malfunctioned.

Had a great season with Harlequins, but it always looked as though Brad Shields was going to beat him to Jones’ squad ever since the New Zealand-born player moved to England. 

The Wasps flanker is excluded, but could come into consideration later this summer depending on his recovery.

Cordero and Herrera were both significant omissions by Mario Ledesma but no call was more stunning than leaving out Facundo Isa, whose power off the back of the scrum and in the loose would have been enormous for Argentina in Japan.