Welsh hopes for the Six Nations tournament were dealt more serious injury blows at the weekend during European Cup action.

With Warren Gatland's men preparing to fine-tune their preparations for the competition in Poland both flyhalf Rhys Priestland and flank Dan Lydiate failed to finish their club matches.

Priestland suffered a knee injury during the Scarlets' 16-13 win at Castres, while Newport Gwent Dragons star Lydiate lasted just 16 minutes of his team's Amlin Challenge Cup victory over Italian side Cavalieri Prato.

Lydiate was forced off with an ankle problem, having been plagued by similar troubles earlier this season, notably during the World Cup in New Zealand.

Gatland, who will take a 35-man group to Poland, has already lost World Cup forwards Luke Charteris, Alun-Wyn Jones and Lloyd Burns from his Six Nations campaign which opens against Ireland in Dublin on February 5.

Asked about Priestland's injury, Scarlets head coach Nigel Davies said: "We will have to wait and see. Hopefully, it is not too serious."

Priestland is set to be Wales' first choice No.10 in the Six Nations after enjoying an outstanding World Cup and producing several top-class displays for the Scarlets this term.

Lydiate, meanwhile, is also a key part of Gatland's Six Nations strategy, having established himself in an outstanding Wales loose trio alongside skipper Sam Warburton and No.8 Toby Faletau.

"I am told the injury is to the back of the ankle, but that is as much as I know at this moment in time," Dragons team manager Robert Beale told BBC Wales Sport after the Prato game.

"I would rather wait until we get the expert medical advice."

AFP