Six get chance to prove fitness, but Tshiunza in positive test
ROSS Moriarty is set for a chance to prove his fitness ahead of the Guinness Six Nations Championship.
The Dragons back-row forward has been released from the Wales squad for regional duty to face Benetton on Friday.
He has not played since suffering a shoulder injury during Wales’ Autumn Nations Series defeat against New Zealand on October 30.
Moriarty, who has won 49 caps, subsequently underwent surgery.
He is among six players who could feature in United Rugby Championship action before rejoining the Wales squad on Sunday ahead of next week’s Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.
Cardiff props Rhys Carre and Dillon Lewis will be at the Arms Park to welcome Leinster on Saturday, while Gareth Anscombe will be getting minutes for the Ospreys against Edinburgh.
Scarlets scrum-half Kieran Hardy has also been released and may be struggling for a spot in the 23 to face Ireland.
And, finally, Ulster hooker Bradley Roberts will go back to his province to face Hardy and the Scarlets on Friday night.
The Welsh Rugby Union, meanwhile, also announced that Exeter forward Christ Tshiunza has tested positive for Covid-19.
Tshiunza, 20, won two caps as a replacement during the autumn and retained his squad place for the Six Nations.
“After returning a positive lateral flow test on Monday’s entry screening, he immediately went into isolation,” the WRU said.
“A subsequent PCR test taken on Monday confirmed the result. He will now isolate
Having made his debut last autumn, the Exeter forward, who can also play in the second-row, would have been in contention to feature against Ireland in Dublin on February 5, given Wales’ lack of destructive options on the blindside.
However, given his relative lack of senior minutes at both club and international level, the blow of isolation denies him the chance to lay down a pre-tournament marker in training. as per government guidelines.”