Wales suffer blow ahead of Springbok Test series

Wales loose forward Ross Moriarty will undergo surgery to release pressure on a nerve injury that has sidelined him for six weeks.

The recovery period will make the 54 times-capped Dragons player a doubt for Wales’ three-Test South Africa tour in July.

Moriarty was stretchered off – with his left leg in a brace – after being injured during the Dragons’ 51-3 United Rugby Championship (URC) defeat against the Sharks in Durban on 1 April.

“Ross is going to have surgery to try and release the pressure he has on his nerve,” Dragons rugby director Dean Ryan told the club’s official website.

“Everybody is working around that to see what the timelines are, so we have gone through a period of trying to rehabilitate that.

“It hit a bit of a stalemate, so we are hoping the next move is a way of accelerating his progress.

“I would be always hopeful his recovery is fast, so we will see how that goes.”

Wales missing a number of key players

Meanwhile, Moriarty’s Dragons and Wales team-mate Aaron Wainwright is also set to be ruled out of contention after suffering a fractured heel.

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac is due to name his squad next week for Tests against the Springboks in Pretoria on 2 July, Bloemfontein 9 July and Cape Town on 16 July.

Absentees are likely to include British & Irish Lions trio Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens and Justin Tipuric, who are all sidelined because of long-term injuries.