Wales centre Jonathan Davies will miss next year’s Guinness Six Nations after it was confirmed that he will be out for six months following knee surgery.
The 31-year-old, who started all of Wales’ 2019 Gunness Six Nations matches on their way to the Grand Slam, picked up the injury in Wales’ penultimate Rugby World Cup Pool game against Fiji.
He went on to miss the quarter-final win against France but returned in their defeat to South Africa in the last four.
Meanwhile, Davies’ teammate Rhys Patchell is battling to be fit for Rugby’s Greatest Championship as he faces a three-month lay-off after injuring his shoulder in Wales’ Bronze final defeat to New Zealand.
The fly-half, who came on against South Africa in the semi-final and started against the All Blacks in Japan, will look to make his return prior to Wales’ Guinness Six Nations opener against Italy in Cardiff on Saturday 1 February.
They then travel to Ireland, host France and head to Twickenham before rounding off their title defence with a home fixture against Scotland.
Wayne Pivac is set to take charge of his first match as Wales head coach when they face the Barbarians – who will be led by the outgoing Warren Gatland – at Principality Stadium on 30 November.
