Will Rowlands: Wales lock to miss Six Nations with shoulder injury

Will Rowlands will leave the Dragons at the end of the 2022-23 season

Wales lock Will Rowlands has confirmed he will miss the Six Nations because of a shoulder injury.

The 31-year-old Dragons second row, who suffered the problem against Argentina on 12 November, has had surgery and will return in April.

"Hopefully I will be involved back in rugby in April time," Rowlands told the Scrum V Live programme.

Flanker Justin Tipuric and backs Rhys Priestland and Josh Adams are fresh Wales worries.

Ospreys captain Tipuric pulled out of their Boxing Day derby against Scarlets before kick-off but head coach Toby Booth allayed fears by saying it was a back spasm that was "not too serious".

Cardiff duo Priestland (ankle) and Adams (knee) were also forced off injured in the win over Dragons on the same day.

Head coach Dai Young said the next 48 hours would be crucial for his injured pair.

"Hopefully it's just a matter of weeks rather than months for them both," he said.

"Rhys hurt his ankle but says it's not too bad, however the next 48 hours will tell us more.

"Josh is similar. He doesn't think it's too bad, but we have to be realistic that a six-day turnaround for the Ospreys might be a big ask even though, hopefully, it's nothing too serious."

Josh Adams scored a try but damaged his knee in Cardiff's win over Dragons

After the game at Rodney Parade, Rowlands said he still hopes to play for Wales in the the 2023 World Cup despite leaving Dragons to join a club outside Wales next season, reportedly French side Racing 92.

That will make 23-cap Rowlands unavailable for Warren Gatland under the current Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) selection policy, which says those playing club rugby outside Wales need to have won 60 caps to remain eligible for national selection.

Rowlands has become a crucial player for Wales and was named player of the year for 2021-22 by the Welsh Rugby Writers Association (WRWA).

Former Wales coach Wayne Pivac had hoped Rowlands would have been able to play a part in the Six Nations.

Fellow lock Ben Carter is also a doubt for the start of the tournament against Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday, 4 February after suffering an ankle injury.

Wales called up Exeter's Dafydd Jenkins and Ospreys' Rhys Davies into their squad for the autumn internationals.

Carter started alongside Adam Beard against Georgia, when Jenkins won his first cap as a replacement, while Alun Wyn Jones lined up with Beard a week later against Australia.

Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate is a long-term casualty after breaking his arm against Argentina.

Gloucester wing Louis Rees-Zammit limped off with an ankle injury against Leicester on 24 December, while Ospreys centres George North and Owen Watkin are currently sidelined.

North had facial surgery for an injury suffered against Leicester in mid-December, while Watkin suffered a knee injury against Argentina.

Cardiff prop Dillon Lewis is also currently absent with a knee injury, while flanker Josh Navidi is hoping to return before the start of the Six Nations after not featuring this season with a neck injury.

Cardiff full-back Liam Williams, Scarlets centre Johnny Williams and prop Wyn Jones as well as Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake are set to return in the next few weeks after missing the autumn internationals campaign.