INJURY-HIT PATCHELL DEALT A NEW BLOW
FLYHALF Rhys Patchell is not being considered by Wales for the forthcoming Six Nations campaign, according to a report in The Rugby Paper.
Concussion problems have kept Patchell sidelined since he came on as a replacement in Wales’s defeat by Scotland back in October.
He was sent back to the Scarlets to get “reconditioned” after that game but has not been seen since.
Before that, he had played little rugby due to a shoulder injury and other niggles.
The last time he started a game was Wales’s bronze medal match against New Zealand at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
It is, perhaps, no great surprise then that Wales boss Wayne Pivac has decided set to omit Patchell from the squad that he will name this week.
Pivac will also be without longterm injury victim Gareth Anscombe for the Six Nations.
He looks poised to rely on Dan Biggar as his first-choice No. 10, with Callum Sheedy, who made his debut in the Autumn Nations Cup, among his deputies.
Jarrod Evans is also favourite to get a call, though there have also been suggestions that Pivac may look to Bath’s Rhys Priestland, who has been linked with a surprise return to Wales with Cardiff Blues later this year.
The former Scarlets playmaker has not featured for his country since the 2015 World Cup.
Scarlets fly-half Dan Jones and Dragons No. 10 Sam Davies are other names likely to come into the selection mix. Wales get their campaign under way against Ireland on February 7.