"Ntamack, van Poortvliet" - Ultimate XV Of Players NOT Going to the 2023 Rugby World Cup

Following the recent 33-man squad announcements, for most of the major nations for the upcoming World Cup, we have pieced together a side of players that will miss out on the trip to France.

Be it due to an unfortunate injury, being dropped from the squad, a shock retirement or simply quitting the national team, here are RUCK's picks for an ultimate XV, of players which will miss out on the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

15. Stuart Hogg (Retired)

14. Sevu Reece (New Zealand and Crusaders)

11. Jonny May (England and Gloucester Rugby)

The back three trio of this combined squad starts off with the shock retirement of Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg. The former Exeter Chiefs man was expected to retire from international rugby following the Rugby World Cup, yet he shocked Gregor Townsend's squad by hanging up the boots ahead of the competition.

All Blacks and Crusaders winger Sevu Reece will miss the competition through a knee ligament injury, slotting him in on the right wing. Jonny May comes in on the left, after the Gloucester flyer was let back to his club after failing to work his way into Steve Borthwick's 33-man squad.

13. Lukhanyo Am (South Africa and Sharks)

12. Henry Slade (England and Exeter Chiefs)

This centre partnership sees another one of Steve Borthwick's releases included, after Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade's shock exclusion from the Rugby World Cup squad. Slade was amongst eight players who played against Wales in the opening Summer Nations Series match in Cardiff, who have been subsequently let go.

South Africa's powerhouse centre Lukhanyo Am will be missed by the Boks, as his knee injury takes him out of Jacques Nienaber's World Cup squad. The Sharks man is amongst a trio of high-profile Springboks absentees, alongside fly half Handre Pollard and lock Lood de Jager.

10. Romain Ntamack (France and Toulouse)

9. Jack van Poortvliet (England and Leicester Tigers)

The two most recent players to miss out on the Rugby World Cup due to injury. England scrum half Jack van Poortvliet suffered a tough ankle injury, just after half an hour's play in the second Summer test match against Wales. Northampton Saints man Alex Mitchell has been re-called in his place, confirming the departure of JVP.

France fly half Romain Ntamack is an enormous loss for Les Bleus. The halfback suffered a devastating ACL injury in their recent match against Scotland, after his boot twisted awkwardly in a tackle attempt on his opposite fan Finn Russell. An honourable mention goes to South Africa's Handre Pollard, with the Springbok officially confirmed as out of the competition, unless injuries strike the camp in France.

1. Wyn Jones (Wales and Scarelts)

2. Ken Owens (Wales and Scarlets)

3. Allan Ala'alatoa (Australia and Brumbies)

Scarlets teammates Wyn Jones and Ken Owens make up the loosehead and hooker spots, in this team of Rugby World Cup absentees. Wyn Jones was overlooked by Warren Gatland, and has spoken out about how this has only spurred the 31-year-old on to improve his performances.

Ken Owens has been unable to shake off a re-occurring back injury, which has unfortunately ruled Wales' 2023 Six Nations captain out of the upcoming trip to France. Wallabies tighthead Allan Ala'alatoa has had his campaign put to bed after rupturing his Achilles, in another unfortunate injury. The Brumbies man misses out despite having impressive performances throughout the 2023 Super Rugby season.

4. Alun Wyn Jones

5. Cory Hill

Wales were dealt a significant blow to their locks, after the duo of Alun Wyn Jones and Cory Hill both voluntarily withdrew from Warren Gatland's squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The legendary Welsh lock Alun Wyn Jones has also left his boyhood club Ospreys, and has since joined Toulon in a joker role for the duration of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Cory Hill stepped away, and has agreed a move to Japanese fourth division club Secom Ruggets. Wales are set to remain with the lock partnership of Adam Beard and Will Rowlands, with their second row ranks being diminished for the competition.

6. Justin Tipuric

7. Michael Hooper

8. Alex Dombrandt

The back-row for this side features another Wales legend, as Justin Tipuric followed suit by stepping down alongside Alun Wyn Jones. The Ospreys man self-withdrew on a chaotic day for the WRU, with Jac Morgan the latest newcomer to step up and take control on the Welsh flank.

Eddie Jones shocked the Australian rugby fanbase, as former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper was left out of the 33-man squad for the Rugby World Cup. Hooper is a high profile absentee alongside veteran halfback Quade Cooper, with 31-year-old Hooper overlooked by Jones. The flanker was expected to be recover from a calf injury in time for the World Cup, yet has since been excluded by Jones.

England number eight Alex Dombrandt wraps up this squad of players set to miss the Rugby World Cup . Steve Borthwick released Dombrandt back to Harlequins, after the number eight failed to impress in the first test against Wales, off the back off an under-par performance in the 2023 Six Nations. Borthwick has since preferred Billy Vunipola as the sole specialist eight-man, yet he's now been ruled out of the opening match against Argentina following a red card enforced ban.