Wales' Botham and Grady to miss autumn games

James Botham has 10 Wales caps and Cardiff team-mate and Mason Grady 15

Wales internationals Mason Grady and James Botham will be unavailable for new head coach Steve Tandy's first four matches in charge, with both targeting Cardiff returns after the autumn internationals having undergone surgery.

Wing or centre Grady sustained a shoulder injury against Richmond at the start of September in his first appearance since suffering an ankle injury in the autumn 2024 defeat by Fiji.

Back row forward Botham had a knee operation this summer after missing out on the tour to Japan.

Wales have games against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in November as Tandy takes over the reins from interim head coach Matt Sherratt.

Grady and Botham will miss the start of Cardiff's United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign and will aim to be back for the second block of the 2025-26 season.

The Arms Park club, coached by Sherratt, have five URC games in September and October.

The Blue and Blacks are then scheduled to visit Italian side Zebre Parma on 29 November – the same day as Wales versus South Africa – before starting their European Challenge Cup campaign.

"Cardiff Rugby can confirm Mason Grady suffered an AC joint injury during the pre-season victory over Richmond FC and has undergone surgery," read a club statement.

"The Wales international will now begin his rehabilitation process, with the aim of a return to action in the second block of fixtures after autumn.

"Wales back row James Botham is also targeting a return to action in the club's second block of fixtures after undergoing knee surgery during the off-season."

The club also confirmed three quarter Elijah Evans faces a similar time frame on the sidelines after fracturing his thumb in the game against Richmond.

Wings Theo Cabango and Iwan Stephens are out with long-term hamstring and knee injuries.

Full-back Matty Young will miss the opening rounds of the URC with an ankle injury while Steffan Emanuel is going through return-to-play protocols after Saturday's friendly victory at Leinster.