Ross Moriarty: Dragons and Wales back row delays return
- Published
Dragons forward Ross Moriarty, alongside director of rugby Dean Ryan in April 2022, has won 54 Wales caps
Ross Moriarty has delayed his return to action after pulling out of Dragons' opening pre-season friendly against Bristol at Rodney Parade as he awaits the birth of his baby.
The Wales back row was originally named as a replacement but sat out the 45-28 loss on 26 August.
Angus O'Brien, Sio Tomkinson, JJ Hanrahan, Rhodri Jones, Bradley Roberts and Sean Lonsdale started for Dragons.
Fellow new recruits George Nott, Rob Evans and Max Clark came off the bench.
Dragons had been in Dublin on a pre-season training camp but returned to Newport for the Bristol match.
Moriarty missed Wales' summer tour of South Africa after knee surgery.
The 28-year-old was taken off on a stretcher in the first half of the 51-3 loss against Sharks in early April.
The British and Irish Lion suffered nerve damage and, after an operation, is almost back to full fitness.
Wales prop Leon Brown is back in training after recovering from a shoulder injury, while back row Aaron Wainwright is back running and "not a million miles away for the start of the season", according to director of rugby Dean Ryan.
Wales trio Will Rowlands, Taine Basham and Ben Carter linked up with Dragons this week after touring South Africa.
Dragons wing Ashton Hewitt missed last season with a knee injury but is back to full fitness, although he did not feature against Bristol.