Dee out as Dragons duo give Wales mixed fitness news

Dragons duo Elliot Dee and Aaron Wainwright have both played in two World Cups

Dragons duo Elliot Dee and Aaron Wainwright have given Wales head coach Warren Gatland mixed news before the autumn internationals in November.

Hooker Dee will miss the three Test matches against Fiji, Australia and South Africa in Cardiff next month because of an ankle injury.

Number eight Wainwright could make his return from a long-term hamstring injury against Connacht on 26 October, just before the Wales squad link up.

Gatland is due to name his squad on Monday, 21 October, with the opening game against Fiji on Sunday, 10 November. Wales play Australia seven days later, with world champions South Africa arriving at Principality Stadium on 23 November.

Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins has already been ruled out of the series, while Cardiff duo Taulupe Faletau and Josh Adams are struggling to be fit.

Wales hooker concerns

Dee, 30, missed the end of last season and the summer Tests against South Africa and Australia but was expected to return at the start of this campaign.

Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan says Dee, who has played 51 Wales internationals, suffered a "little setback" and is not expected back until December.

Young Cardiff hookers Evan Lloyd and Efan Daniel, who both toured Australia, are struggling with injury, their captain Liam Belcher is definitely missing, and Ospreys number two Sam Parry was out of favour in the summer.

With Dewi Lake and Ryan Elias the experienced hookers available to Gatland, young Dragons front-rower Brodie Coghlan, 23, could be an another Wales option after impressing for the Dragons at the start of the season.

"We would be ecstatic if any of our players gets picked but probably more so with Brodie given the work and effort he has put in," said Flanagan.

"Not long ago he was up in [North Wales regional team] RGC on loan fighting to be a professional rugby player, but it's one step at a time for him.

"We didn't necessarily think we would see this level of impact but what we did see was somebody who took his job very seriously over the summer.

"He changed his body shape, reflected on what he needed to do physically, and you can see a very fit player."

Dragons have a loose-head prop injury crisis before the United Rugby Championship (URC) visit of Benetton to Rodney Parade on Saturday evening.

Rhodri Jones has been ruled out for the rest of the year because of a knee injury leaving Rodrigo Martinez as the only Dragons number one who is fit, with Ospreys on-loan prop Cam Jones acting as back-up.

With Josh Reynolds also sidelined, Dragons have moved to sign an overseas prop until January and he is set to arrive this weekend.

"We have a loose-head coming in very soon to help us out," said Flanagan.

"We have an injury crisis and the Ospreys were very good in allowing Cameron to come to us for this block.

"Josh is close to a return but isn't contact-ready yet, while Rhodri will be out for a long time with an injury he picked up late in the Sharks game.

"Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths has had ankle surgery and Jordan Morris had knee surgery, so that leaves us with Rodrigo as the only fit loose-head on contract."

Wainwright fitness race

Wainwright, 27, suffered his hamstring problem in the first Test defeat against Australia in Sydney where he had celebrated his 50th Wales cap.

He was targeting a return before the end of the first URC block of matches which culminates with the trip to face Connacht in Galway in 10 days.

Wainwright stated he wanted to play for the Dragons before appearing for Wales.

His anticipated return game would be five days after Gatland names his squad, but the back-rower would still have a further two weeks before the first international to prove his Test fitness.

"Connacht is a realistic target, as long as he can complete these two weeks of training," said Flanagan.

"We need to make sure he is safe, but he has hit every target that has been set for him, and exceeded some."

Wainwright will not be fit this weekend but Australian lock Steve Cummins is in contention for his debut after his summer arrival from Pau, while Wales full-back Cai Evans is back in training.