Moriarty in fitness race to play in Six Nations

WALES back-rower Ross Moriarty is facing a race to be fit for the 2021 Six Nations tournament after undergoing ankle surgery.

The Dragons star went under the knife earlier this week after picking up an injury while training with Wales.

The 26-year-old was released from Wayne Pivac’s Autumn Nations Cup squad, and the Kiwi boss will now be sweating on his fitness ahead of their opening clash at home to Ireland on February 6, 2021.

Dragons director of rugby Dean Ryan has already said he hopes to have Moriarty back in action by the end of January.

Speaking ahead of the region’s Champions Cup clash with Glasgow, Ryan said: “Sometimes a player can get caught up in trying to make it for every international and it’s not worked.

“You’ve got to then make it about Ross and getting him right and ready to play again at the right time.

“He went in for a review and the decision was taken that it would be better to stabilise the ankle. We’ve done that and we are in the eight weeks territory, although we have to see how he rehabs.”

The player himself appears in positive mood, and recently took to Instagram to post an update on his recovery.

He wrote: “All has gone well with the op and the road to recovery begins.”

Meanwhile, Ryan has confirmed that Moriarty’s Dragons teammate Adam Warren is facing a “significant amount of time” on the treatment table after picking up a groin injury in the early stages of the win over Benetton.

He’ll be joined on the sidelines by Ben Fry, who’s out with a torn bicep, and will be out for at least a couple of months. Both players are also set to go under the knife.

Tighthead Lloyd Fairbrother also came off after a head injury in the fourth minute last time out, and will sit out Saturday’s trip to Glasgow.

World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper is to step down in January when he will take up a new role as head of the NFL in Europe and the UK.

Gosper’s nine-year spell as CEO of the sport’s global governing body has seen sevens reintroduced into the Olympics and the delivery of the first World Cup staged in Asia - Japan 2019.

Chief operating officer Alan Gilpin will perform the role of interim CEO until Gosper’s replacement is appointed.

“It’s been a fantastic nine years. It has been an absolute privilege to have worked with so many talented and dedicated rugby people around the world,” Gosper said.

“Rugby is a wonderful sport and World Rugby is a fantastic organisation, and therefore it was a very difficult decision to leave.”