WALES have announced their squad for the 2003 World Cup in Australia - with the captain to be named at a later date.

Michael Owen is the only member of the Newport and Gwent Dragons team in Wales' World Cup squad for Australia in October.

It means captain Andy Marinos, Ian Gough, Rhys Oakley and Nathan Brew have all missed out, though former Newport back row forward Alix Popham, now with Leeds, has made it.

Coach Steve Hansen has named 31 players with the trio of hookers to travel to Australia to be finalised before the September 10 deadline, and he has delayed the choice of captain.

WALES SQUAD FOR RWC 2003

BACKS: Kevin Morgan (Celtic Warriors), Rhys Williams (Cardiff Blues), Garan Evans (Llanelli Scarlets), Gareth Thomas (Celtic Warriors), Mark Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Mark Taylor (Llanelli Scarlets), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), Sonny Parker (Celtic Warriors), Iestyn Harris (Cardiff Blues), Ceri Sweeney (Celtic Warriors), Stephen Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Llanelli Scarlets), Gareth Cooper (Celtic Warriors), Shane Williams (Neath-Swansea Ospreys).

FORWARDS:Jonathan Thomas (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Colin Charvis (Unattached), Dafydd Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Alix Popham (Leeds Tykes), Michael Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons), Gareth Llewellyn (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Robert Sidoli (Celtic Warriors), Brent Cockbain (Celtic Warriors), Gethin Jenkins (Celtic Warriors), Adam Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Iestyn Thomas (Llanelli Scarlets), Gareth Williams (Cardiff Blues), Robin McBryde (Llanelli Scarlets), Huw Bennett (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Mefin Davies (Celtic Warriors).