Blow for Wales as Faletau to miss World Cup

WALES have suffered a massive blow after Taulupe Faletau was ruled out of the Rugby World Cup, writes Simon Thomas.

The Lions No 8 suffered a clavicle (collar bone) injury in what has been described as “an innocuous training ground incident” and will require surgery.

He suffered the damage after returning home from Wales’ training camp in Fiesch, Switzerland, where he was taking full contact.

A full prognosis and return to play timeframe will be established after the operation. The Wales squad and management have wished the Bath back rower the very best with his recovery.

It’s the latest injury set-back for the 72-cap Faletau, who has been sidelined for much of the past couple of years.

He has only played one game for Bath since last October due to a double arm fracture and didn’t play for Wales at all during the 2018-19 campaign. Knee and arm injuries have limited him to just six appearances for Wales in all since he took a starring role on the 2017 Lions tour of New Zealand.

He fractured his right forearm playing against Exeter last October and then suffered another hairline fracture around a screw, which had been used to attach a metal plate to the bone, while making his comeback, at home to Wasps in January.

He had another operation after seeing the surgeon who dealt with England No.8 Billy Vunipola in an effort to solve the problem.

The 28-year-old looked to be making good progress based on his full involvement in Wales’ Swiss training camp.

So the latest news is a body blow for both him and of course, the national side.

It means Ross Moriarty will now be the firm favourite to wear the No 8 jersey for Wales at the World Cup in Japan, as he did during the Grand Slam.

The versatile Josh Navidi will provide a further option there, while Ellis Jenkins could also come into the equation for a squad spot if he can prove his fitness following knee ligament damage.

Wales will play their first World Cup warm-up match against England at Twickenham a week on Sunday.

Moriarty would be odds on to pack down at No.8, with Navidi having taken a limited part in training out in Switzerland as he recovers from a dislocated elbow.