Wales summer tour plans hit by double injury blow

Wales have been hit by a double injury blow ahead of their departure for summer Tests against South Africa and Argentina.

Scarlets flanker Aaron Shingler and Dragons wing Ashton Hewitt will both miss the three-match trip to Washington DC and South America.

Shingler suffered a knee injury during Scarlets’ Guinness Pro14 final defeat against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday, while the uncapped Hewitt sustained a shoulder injury during Wales training three days ago. The Welsh Rugby Union said Cardiff Blues forward Josh Turnbull has been called into the squad.

Wales face South Africa in Washington next weekend before heading to South America and two Tests against Argentina. The WRU added that Shingler’s injury “requires further assessment”.

His absence is a major blow for Wales, especially as Cardiff Blues flanker Josh Navidi had previously been sidelined from the trip by a dislocated shoulder suffered during Blues’ European Challenge Cup final victory over Gloucester earlier this month.

Hewitt, meanwhile, was drafted into the squad last week when Worcester wing Josh Adams, along with Exeter prop Tomas Francis and Bath lock Luke Charteris,

0 Aaron Shingler: Knee injury. were released from Wales’ tour plans.

The Springboks clash falls outside World Rugby’s June Test window and Englandbased players were not made available by Premiership Rugby for the South Africa fixture.

The official Test window is from 9-23 June, and Wales head coach Warren Gatland decided to release the trio as they were unavailable for the whole tour.

Gatland had already opted to rest the vast majority of Wales players involved with the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand last summer, a group that includes the likes of Alun Wyn Jones, Taulupe Faletau, Dan Biggar, Justin Tipuric and Ken Owens.