Six Nations 2023: Scarlets hooker Ryan Elias emerges as Wales fitness doubt
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Scarlets hooker Ryan Elias has played 33 internationals for Wales
Scarlets and Wales hooker Ryan Elias is a Six Nations fitness doubt as he battles an Achilles injury.
Elias has missed the last three Scarlets games and head coach Dwayne Peel says he will not play in the next two matches, against Bayonne and Bulls.
When asked whether Elias would be fit for the Six Nations, Peel said: "Potentially, I am not sure where he is going to be for that."
Wales head coach Warren Gatland names his Six Nations squad on 17 January.
Elias, 27, misses the Challenge Cup trip to face Bayonne on 21 January and the United Rugby Championship (URC) home game against Bulls six days later.
The following weekend, Wales face Ireland in the Six Nations opener in Cardiff on 4 February.
"He's all right, I think it's going to be a medium-term (injury) for Ryan," added Peel.
"It was a case of having to bite the bullet on this because to be fair to Ryan, he is a tough boy and wants to play through pain.
"It is a shame because he was going good for us post the autumn."
Elias, Ken Owens and Bradley Roberts were the three hookers in the autumn international squad selected by previous Wales head coach Wayne Pivac.
Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake was initially named by Pivac but was replaced by Roberts after suffering a shoulder injury which forced him to miss the November campaign.
Lake has returned to fitness but Sam Parry and Elliot Dee are currently injured.
Gatland has other injury concerns before the Six Nations starts. Dragons second row Will Rowlands and Ospreys fly-half Gareth Anscombe have been ruled out of the tournament with shoulder injuries, while Gloucester wing Louis Rees-Zammit is set to miss the first two matches because of an ankle problem.
Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate is sidelined with a broken arm and will be out until February and Scarlets prop Samson Lee is a long-term casualty with an Achilles problem.
Cardiff centre Willis Halaholo is not expected to return until March because of a hamstring issue, while flanker Thomas Young is out for three months with a calf injury.
Dillon Lewis, Josh Navidi, Josh Macleod, Owen Watkin and Johnny Williams are also battling to prove their fitness for the start of the tournament.
One Wales player who has returned is British and Irish Lions prop Wyn Jones, impressing as a replacement in the Scarlets' 20-17 win over Cheetahs.
Jones, 30, has been absent for three months with a knee injury and missed the autumn internationals.
"It has been a frustrating three months," said Jones.
"It is always the same when you are on the sidelines, you want to be out on the field.
"It was nice to get some minutes under the belt. For myself, the most important thing is to get out on the field, enjoy my rugby and get back to full fitness."
Dragons lock Ben Carter also made a comeback in their victory in Pau.
Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb fell out of favour with Pivac, but his hopes of a prompt recall under Gatland have suffered a blow.
Webb left the fray early as Ospreys beat on Montpellier in the Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday night after taking some heavy tackles.
Ospreys boss Tony Booth said: "I haven't spoken to Rhys. I think he got a rib shot. There were a couple of instances in that play. You know if he comes off, it's not straightforward because he's tough.
"From that point of view, hopefully it's not too bad. He's been one of our most consistent performers all year.
"We'll wish him well, look after him and hopefully get him back as soon as possible. Reuben [Morgan-Williams] did well in his place. We're blessed that we've got some strength in depth there."