Queensland Reds v Wales: Cory Hill pulls out for personal reasons

Head coach Warren Gatland says captain Cory Hill has pulled out of Wales’ tour match against Queensland Reds for “personal reasons”.

Hill has been replaced in the second row by Dafydd Jenkins, with scrum-half Gareth Davies taking over the captaincy for the uncapped match in Brisbane.

Hooker Dewi Lake, who led Wales in the two Test defeats against Australia in Sydney and Melbourne, is on the replacements’ bench as a result of the late changes.

Gatland gave an update on his team in a pre-match interview with an Australian television station and it was confirmed by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

Gatland named Hill captain when the side for Friday’s game was announced on Wednesday.

It was a controversial decision because of an incident in 2021 when Hill was named among a group of individuals who damaged a woman’s house.

He was not charged by police, but apologised at the time through a representative.

At a press conference this week, Hill said he regretted the incident and apologised publicly, while Gatland explained why he thought the lock should be his captain for this game.

Gatland had included Hill in his summer squad, despite the former Cardiff lock now playing his club rugby in the fourth tier of Japanese rugby.

Hill returned for his first taste of international rugby in three years with two replacement appearances against Australia in Sydney and Melbourne in the 2-0 series defeat.