Moriarty back in November

WALES will be forced to rule a second Lions flanker out of action until the New Year – Ross Moriarty.

The Gloucester blockbuster will miss the Autumn series but hopes to be fighting fit in time for the Six Nations. His absence alongside Lions captain Sam Warburton leaves Wales with a gaping vacancy on the blindside – one of several issues to be addressed before naming their squad in ten days’ time.

Moriarty has not played since damaging his back during the opening match of the Lions tour.

Moriarty has now been given the go-ahead to started light training with the aim of playing again before Christmas.

“Ross is not going to be back in time for the autumn matches,’’ his father, former dual-code international Paul Moriarty, said yesterday. “We are looking towards the end of November.

“This is the first week he’s done any training. Once he starts upping his work rate he will have a better idea of where he is. We are more concerned that he is fine for the rest of his life.”

Moriarty’s life with the Lions started and finished on the first Saturday, against New Zealand Barbarians. “This is the first time he’s had to deal with adversity,’’ Moriarty snr, added. “You go on a Lions tour and after the first 80 minutes you’re told it’s all over. That’s hard to take. Now that he can see a light at the end of the tunnel he is feeling a lot better.”