Wales’s hopes of ending their 12-match losing streak in the Six Nations have taken a blow with the news that Dewi Lake could miss the whole tournament with an arm injury.
Lake, the Wales captain and first-choice hooker, has had surgery to repair a biceps injury suffered in training with Ospreys and could be out of action for up to 12 weeks.
Mark Jones, the Ospreys head coach, is hoping that Lake, 25, could return to action sooner, which could give him an outside chance of featuring in the latter part of the Six Nations, but his absence will come as another setback to Warren Gatland, the Wales head coach, whose side lost all 12 matches they played in 2024.
The leadership qualities of Lake in a young Wales side will be sorely missed
MICHAEL STEELE/GETTY IMAGES
It will also be a blow to Lake’s chances of earning selection for the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia in the summer, as he has been considered a leading candidate for one of the hooker positions in the squad. Lake will now focus on rehabilitation, with a goal of playing some part in the Six Nations after leading Wales to three defeats in the autumn.
“I think 12 weeks was the high end of [expected recovery time],” Jones said. “The operation went well, I know Dewi and the quality of the rehabilitation out there now. He is set on getting that [time frame] as low as he can.”
Gatland was recently backed by the Welsh Rugby Union to continue in his role, despite his position being “on the line” during a review of the string of autumn defeats, according to Abi Tierney, the WRU chief executive. At a time of transition, Lake is one of few players who have established their ability at international level, and his leadership qualities in a young side will also be missed. Wales begin the Six Nations away to France in Paris on January 31 and their final match is at home to England on March 15.
Ryan Elias, 29, the Scarlets hooker, came off the bench for Lake during the autumn, but he has been absent recently with a neck injury. Elliot Dee, 30, could be another experienced alternative, having made his first appearance of the season for Dragons on Boxing Day after recovering from an ankle injury.
