Wales’s injury woe before the Six Nations opener in Cardiff next week deepened on Thursday when the Lions scrum-half Rhys Webb was ruled out of the tournament, two days after it was announced that his half-back partner Dan Biggar would miss the first three rounds because of a shoulder problem.
The uncapped Cardiff Blues scrum‑half Tomos Williams was called up as a replacement for Webb who, after this season, will be unavailable for his country. He is joining Toulon in the summer and will be the first casualty of a rule coming into force which stipulates any player turning down a regional contract to play outside Wales will be eligible for Test rugby only if he has won at least 60 caps. Biggar, who is joining Northampton, reached that number last month.
Webb, who has a knee injury, and Biggar join their fellow Lions players Sam Warburton, Taulupe Faletau, Jonathan Davies and Dan Lydiate on the unavailability list for at least the first three rounds of the Six Nations, while the Saracens wing Liam Williams is doubtful for the Scotland game because of an abdominal injury and the Northampton wing George North has not started a match for three months.
In addition, the fly-half Rhys Priestland returned to Bath last week for treatment on a hamstring strain while the Scarlets second-row Jake Ball is expected to miss the entire Six Nations tournament following shoulder surgery.
Warren Gatland, the Wales head coach, was in bullish mood at the launch of the Six Nations on Wednesday, saying that he regarded his side as favourites citing as a factor the inclusion of 13 Scarlets in his squad.
The region last weekend became the first team from Wales for six years to qualify for the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup after following up their flowing victory at Bath by fronting up against Toulon, but the Six Nations will test Gatland’s strength in depth to the full.
