Moriarty returns to put name in the frame
ROSS Moriarty will make his longawaited return to action today – raising the possibility of a Wales call-up at some point during the autumn campaign.
The 23-year-old back rower hasn’t played since the opening game of the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand at the beginning of June because of a back nerve problem.
After figuring in the victory over the NZ Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei, he was ruled out of the rest of the trip and has remained sidelined for the first couple of months of this season.
But now he is finally fit again and will pack down on the blindside flank against Leicester in this afternoon’s Anglo-Welsh Cup clash at Welford Road (3pm).
Moriarty wasn’t named in Warren Gatland’s 36-man squad for the internationals against Australia, Georgia, New Zealand and South Africa.
But, if he can get up to speed pretty rapidly, he could yet be drafted on board, given his ability to slot in at 6 or 8 and what he brings to the party with his dynamic carrying and bighitting defence.
As it stands, he wouldn’t be available for the final Test versus the Springboks on December 2 as it’s outside the international window and English-based players generally aren’t released for those games.
For now though, it’s just good to see him back out on the field again after five months out of action.
In his absence, there has been much debate about his future in the wake of the Welsh Rugby Union introducing their new 60-cap selection policy.
He is out of contract at Gloucester at the end of this season and, with just 17 caps to his name, he would have to join a Welsh region next term to continue his international career.
The son of Paul and the nephew of Richard Moriarty, he has been heavily linked with a move to the Scarlets for some time.