Wales and Scarlets duo Elias and James out until autumn

Hooker Ryan Elias has won 41 Wales caps and centre Eddie James four

Wales internationals Ryan Elias and Eddie James are set to miss the start of new head coach Steve Tandy's reign after being ruled out of Scarlets' first block of United Rugby Championship (URC) games.

Hooker Elias and centre James have both undergone surgery and will not play for the Llanelli club in the first five games of the 2024-25 season.

Tandy names his first squad at the end of October for autumn Tests against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.

The blows come after Cardiff confirmed wing Mason Grady and back-row forward James Botham will also be out until the second block of the season after having operations.

"Scarlets can confirm that hooker Ryan Elias and centre Eddie James will spend a period on the sidelines recovering from surgery," read a club statement.

"Elias has undergone an operation on an elbow injury that will keep him out of action until November. James will also be out for a similar period as he recovers from a back issue."

Elias missed the 2025 Six Nations because of a neck injury and did not tour Japan in the summer, with Dewi Lake, Liam Belcher and Elliot Dee taken as the hookers.

James played twice for Wales last autumn and started against Italy in the Six Nations.

Scarlets teammates Johnny Williams, Joe Roberts and Macs Page toured Japan along with Cardiff's Ben Thomas.

Joe Hawkins, who has moved to Llanelli from Exeter, will be a midfield option for the autumn along with Gloucester's Max Llewellyn and Saracens' Nick Tompkins.

Scarlets start their season at home to Munster on Saturday, 27 September and face Connacht away and Stormers in Llanelli before a double-header in South Africa against Lions and Sharks.

They then host Glasgow on Saturday, 29 November - the same day as Wales entertain the Springboks.