Wales suffer blow ahead of Six Nations finale and Autumn Nations Cup as Ken Owens is ruled out with a shoulder injury as Elliott Dee is called up
- Owens injured his shoulder during Scarlets’ defeat to Glasgow last Sunday
- The hooker, 33, will miss Six Nations conclusion and Autumn Nations Cup
- Dragons hooker Elliott Dee has been called up to the Wales squad in his place
Wales have been dealt a big blow with Ken Owens ruled out of their autumn Tests with a shoulder injury.
The 33-year-old 77-cap hooker was hurt during Scarlets’ defeat to Glasgow last Sunday, having come on as a substitute.
And it is understood he will now take no part in the conclusion of the Six Nations or the new Autumn Nations Cup, significantly damaging coach Wayne Pivac‘s front-row resources.
Wales have been dealt a blow ahead of their autumn fixtures with Ken Owens ruled out injured
Losing Owens, who has 77 caps for Wales, comes as major blow ahead of the internationals
Dragons hooker Elliott Dee, who was Owens’ understudy at the 2019 World Cup, has been called up instead of him having not been selected in the original squad.
Pivac now has the choice of Dee, Ryan Elias, who has won 13 caps to date, and uncapped Osprey Sam Parry, 28.
Young flanker Josh Macleod, 23, is also out for whole autumn. The Scarlets back-rower has hamstring trouble and is replaced by James Davies, 29, brother of Jon.
A WRU statement read: ‘Ken Owens (shoulder) and Josh Macleod (hamstring) have both been released from the Wales squad due to respective injuries which preclude them from taking a significant part in training.’