Macleod out of Wales contention for autumn series

Flanker Josh Macleod has won four caps in five years but started Wales' last two games

Josh Macleod is out of contention for Wales this autumn after being ruled out by Scarlets for several more weeks.

The Scarlets flanker has not played since the opening game of the season after suffering a pectoral muscle injury in training days later.

The 28-year-old has not travelled to South Africa with his region - with Scarlets playing Lions in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on Saturday - given head coach Dwayne Peel did not expect to have his captain available until late November.

New Wales boss Steve Tandy is due to name his first squad for the autumn international next Tuesday.

"Josh is not going to play for us in the next two weeks," said Peel.

"I know the Wales squad is announced next week but I don't know what Steve is thinking around Josh."

Peel added: "He'll be fit sometime in November. I don't know exactly when, but we're expecting to have him available for our first games after that period."

It is another injury blow for Macleod, who returned to the Wales team in Japan in July after almost three years out of the international frame.

He started both Tests on the tour, including the victory in Kobe that ended Wales' record 18-Test losing run.

Wales face Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in November.