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Wales handed fitness encouragement alongside further injury concern
By Josh Raisey
No 8 Aaron Wainwright is expected to be fit for Wales' Autumn Nations Series campaign after overcoming a hamstring injury, although his game time will be limited before Warren Gatland's side face Fiji on November 10.
The Dragons back-row has been out since starting for Wales in their first Test loss to Australia in Sydney in July in what was his 50th cap. The 27-year-old had started every match for Wales in 2024 prior to that.
While his Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan has ruled him out of the United Rugby Championship clash with Benetton on Saturday at Rodney Parade, he is expected to return the week after against Connacht.
Though the match against the Irish outfit will come after Warren Gatland is expected to name his Wales squad for the autumn, the back-row would be a surprising omission given his performances in red this year. Though his game time would be limited before linking up with the national squad, his presence will be a boost for his coach.
"Connacht is a realistic target, as long as he can complete these two weeks of training," said Flanagan.
"We need to make sure he is safe, but he has hit every target that has been set for him, and exceeded some."
Unfortunately for Gatland, Flanagan also confirmed that hooker Elliot Dee is not expected to return until December after suffering a setback to the ankle injury that ruled him out of Wales' summer internationals.
This injury update comes the day after it was confirmed that lock Dafydd Jenkins will also not be available for the internationals, where Wales face Fiji, Australia and South Africa.
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Latest Comments
Agreed. As a Saffa I have much respect for the ABs. I also have to say given any option I would ONLY prefer to lose to ABs. To lose to England is probably the most embarrassing think to happen to either of us.
There was a time when both of us lost to England and we both hated it. Thankfully those days are behind us. Kudos to you guys, kudos to ABs. But dear old BS seems to hate us Boks. No idea why.
Go to commentsI got the sense that holding him to it was kickback from SB and the rfu smarting at being jilted quite so soon, so unexpectedly and so publicly.
Seem to remember that they spoke to Gustard before appointing Joe and you really have to think he would have come in at a higher level?
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