Wales have been dealt another major injury blow ahead of their Six Nations opener away to Ireland on Sunday. Matthew Rees has picked up a calf strain in training and is set to be sidelined for two weeks, ruling him out of the Ireland clash and also Scotland’s visit to Cardiff a week later.
Rees was not a shoe in for a start against Ireland, facing a battle with Huw Bennett for the number two shirt but the option to have him will be a blow to Warren Gatland’s side. Rees missed the World Cup through injury, with Bennett taking his place in New Zealand. Rees was a potential captain for the Welsh during the Six Nations, having led them in last year’s tournament. The role of captain now looks set to be taken by World Cup talisman, Sam Warburton.
Rees’ injury adds to a long list of casualties ahead of the Six Nations for Warren Gatland. Prop Gethin Jenkins, Hooker Lloyd Burns and Second Row duo Luke charteris and Alun Wyn Jones are all out of at least the opening encounter with Jamie Roberts, Rhys Priestland and Dan Lydiate all doubts for the game.
Gatland will announce his team for the Ireland game at noon on Friday with the expected selections of uncapped Ashley Beck replacing Roberts, James Hook in for Priestland and Ryan Jones in for Lydiate if each of them are not fit to start.
After a hugely successful World Cup campaign the Welsh will have been hoping to match their performances in New Zealand with a strong Six Nations campaign.
This string of injury worries will come as a blow for them ahead of a campaign which will see trips to Dublin and Twickenham and hosting Scotland, Italy and their World Cup conquerors, France. It is set to be a difficult campaign for Wales and with a number of key players missing it is getting more and more difficult as time goes on.