Wales have suffered another injury blow with squad hooker Scott Baldwin being ruled out for the rest of this season.
The Ospreys forward was among three hookers in Wales’ NatWest 6 Nations squad, with Ken Owens starting Saturday’s championship opener against Scotland and Elliot Dee on the bench.
In a statement, the Welsh Rugby Union said: “Scott Baldwin has been released from Wales’ NatWest 6 Nations squad due to a foot injury sustained in training.
“The injury will require surgery with a recovery time frame of at least five months.
“Scarlets hooker Ryan Elias, who made his international debut last summer, has been called into the squad.”
Wales are without several senior internationals for the Scotland clash, with players like Sam Warburton, Jonathan Davies, Taulupe Faletau, Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb among those sidelined.
Head coach Warren Gatland’s starting line-up against Scotland includes 10 players from the in-form Scarlets, while Worcester wing Josh Adams – this season’s Aviva Premiership top try-scorer – will make his Test debut.
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