Wales face potential raft of pull-outs for South Africa tour as squad to be announced

When it comes to beating the Springboks on South African soil this summer, Wales are certainly up against it.

Even with a full-strength squad, such is the mood in Welsh rugby at the minute, you'd imagine Wales will be flying out a priest to Pretoria along with the usual coaching ticket. It's going to be a tough tour.

However, with a spate of injuries, it could well be nightmarish. Perhaps not as bad as 1998, but it could be the starting point for any future BBC documentaries in years to come.

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Some injury absentees will be felt harder than others by Wayne Pivac. While many aren't totally ruled out at this stage there are a lot of worries with the squad expected to be announced next week.

is one who is definitely missing. The Dragons' back-row, who has established himself as a No. 8 back-up to Taulupe Faletau under Pivac, will miss the tour after fracturing a heel against the Scarlets recently.

is another back-row who won't feature. The openside hasn't featured this season since falling foul of a shoulder issue in the Lions' opening match against Japan last year.

Another Lion who has struggled this year has been . The hooker hasn't been seen in a Welsh jersey since the 2021 Grand Slam decider in Paris, with a back injury ruling him out of the autumn and then denying him a Six Nations place.

Ryan Elias and Dewi Lake have stepped up to the plate. It seems likely they'll have to continue carrying the load in South Africa. , though, might not be there - with the Dragons hooker a doubt with a calf strain.

Elsewhere in the front-row, another Test Lion might be missing. is on the road to recovery after an operation on his knee.