MORIARTY NOW SET TO GO UNDER THE KNIFE

ROSS Moriarty is to undergo surgery on the nerve issue that has kept him out of rugby for six weeks.

It’s yet another worry for Wales head coach Wayne Pivac ahead of naming his squad for the tour to South Africa this summer.

Back-rower Moriarty sustained the injury playing for the Dragons against Sharks on April 1, with the 28-year-old caught in an awkward position during a collision. He was then stretchered off the field with his left leg in a brace.

Before the bump in the game at Kings Park, Moriarty had been his team’s standout player. But there must now be major uncertainty about whether he’ll feature on Wales’ three-Test tour in July. Pivac names his squad next week.

Asked whether the 54-cap player would return to action in the summer or next season, Dragons director of rugby Dean Ryan said: “I don’t know the answer to that. All the medics, both Wales and ourselves, are involved in going to the next stage, which is to try and release that pressure.

“I would always be hopeful his recovery is fast, so we will see how that goes.”

Wales could certainly do with a player of Moriarty’s physicality in South Africa this summer.