The Wales No 8 Taulupe Faletau looks set to miss the Six Nations after breaking his arm again, according to reports.
Faletau, a British and Irish Lion, suffered a fractured forearm playing for Bath in October and missed the autumn international series.
The 28-year-old returned for his club in Saturday’s 18-16 Champions Cup win over Wasps but he has reportedly suffered another break.
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Faletau is expected to be out for up to eight weeks, with the final round of Six Nations fixtures on 16 March.
Wales begin their campaign away to France on 1 February and Warren Gatland is due to announce his squad at midday on Tuesday.
Speaking after his side’s game on Saturday, the Bath director of rugby, Todd Blackadder, had been full of praise for Faletau. “He looked great, didn’t he? Really sharp. If only we could have given him more ball,” Blackadder said. “Before the game he was really, really nervous. But it’s good to see those nerves from an experienced guy like him.”
Gatland has several other injury concerns, with Leigh Halfpenny set to miss the start of the tournament as he has not played since suffering concussion during the victory over Australia on 10 November.
The Scarlets head coach, Wayne Pivac, said last week that Halfpenny has seen a specialist and would not feature for three to five weeks. Saracens’ Liam Williams is likely to fill the full-back spot for the opener in Paris.
Dan Biggar is also nursing a knee injury suffered in Northampton’s European Challenge Cup defeat by Clermont Auvergne. The fly-half limped off with what the Saints director of rugby, Chris Boyd, described as a minor knee twist. Biggar is expected to be fit for Wales’ opening game.