Wales World Cup captain Morgan to return in May

Jac Morgan has not played in 2024 following knee surgery

Wales captain Jac Morgan is being lined up for his first game of the year in Ospreys' trip to Leinster next month.

The flanker has not played since undergoing knee surgery last December.

But Ospreys say the back-row, who led Wales to the World Cup quarter-finals last summer, will make their next fixture, a visit to Dublin on May 11.

Morgan is in South Africa with Ospreys but will not play a part in their next two league games, though Wales hooker Dewi Lake will return from a lengthy injury against Bulls on Saturday.

"With Jac and Dewi both around, it's fair to say training has gone up a level on the competitive front," said head coach Toby Booth.

"But that's what you want as you're going to be challenged in the game.

"To get some strength in depth back in hooker and back-row is good for us."

Morgan and Lake are likely to provide a major lift for Ospreys who are chasing a play-off place in the United Rugby Championship for the first time since 2017.

The return of his World Cup co-captains will also be welcome news for Wales head coach Warren Gatland, before the summer internationals.

Gatland was without both Morgan and Lake for the entire Six Nations but will hope to have both available for the Test against South Africa at Twickenham on 22 June before heading on a two-Test tour to Australia.

Exeter's Dafydd Jenkins took over the captaincy during the Six Nations, while Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell wore Morgan's number seven jersey, in a campaign that saw Wales finish bottom of the championship for the first time in 20 years.

But Cardiff number eight Taulupe Faletau looks likely to be ruled out following a shoulder injury just 30 minutes into his first appearance since the World Cup.