Young poised for debut as Wales suffer double injury setback
WASPS flanker Thomas Young could be in contention to make his Wales debut against Italy on Sunday.
Wales have suffered a double injury setback ahead of the Six Nations opener in Rome, with Bath forwards Taulupe Faletau and Luke Charteris both sidelined.
No.8 Faletau’s expected absence might open the door for 24-year-old Young – whose father is Wasps rugby director and former Wales prop Dai Young – to secure a bench spot at Stadio Olimpico.
Gloucester’s Ross Moriarty is expected to wear the No.8 shirt, packing down alongside flankers Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric, with Jake Ball forging Wales’ second-row partnership alongside new captain Alun Wyn Jones.
But in terms of back-row cover, it would then appear to be a choice among the replacements for interim coach Rob Howley between Ospreys pair James King and Olly Cracknell, plus Young, who broke into the Wales squad a fortnight ago following several outstanding Wasps displays.
At this stage, Faletau has not fully recovered from a knee injury suffered on Christmas Eve, and lock Charteris is nursing what Wales assistant coach Robin McBryde described as “a slight fracture in his hand.” But both players are, it is understood, on course to be available for next week’s Principality Stadium appointment with Six Nations title holders England. “He (Faletau) is still progressing,” McBryde said. “It is still early days. Everything is heading in the right direction, really. “(Fit) for this week? No, it will be too early this week.