DRAGONS back rower Ross Moriarty is a major doubt for Wales’ summer tour to South Africa after being booked in for surgery.

The 28-year-old has been sidelined since being stretchered off in the first half of the United Rugby Championship defeat to the Sharks in Durban last month.

Moriarty got his knee trapped after making a tackle and while the blow wasn’t as severe as first feared, nerve damage means he will not feature again for the Dragons this season.

The back rower will miss tomorrow’s derby against Cardiff and also the finale against the Lions at Rodney Parade a week on Saturday.

Wales play three Tests against the Springboks in July and head coach Wayne Pivac will name his squad next week.

South Wales Argus: BLOW: Ross Moriarty was stretchered off against the SharksBLOW: Ross Moriarty was stretchered off against the Sharks

"Ross is going to have surgery to try and release the pressure he has on his nerve," said Dragons director of rugby Dean Ryan.

"Everybody is working around that to see what the timelines are, so we have gone through a period of trying to rehabilitate that.

"It hit a bit of a stalemate so we are hoping the next move is a way of accelerating his progress."

Asked whether Moriarty could still make Wales’ tour or whether he will instead eye a pre-season return for his club, Ryan replied: "I don't know the answer to all that and all the medics, both Wales and ourselves, are involved in going to the next stage, which is to try and release that pressure.

"I would be always hopeful his recovery is fast, so we will see how that goes."

Dragons back rower Aaron Wainwright has already been ruled out of the summer tour with a foot injury while lock Will Rowlands and tighthead Leon Brown are not involved against Cardiff.

Rowlands came off in the home defeat to the Scarlets because of an injury to his left shoulder while Brown has been hindered by a shoulder nerve problem.

Ryan is yet to rule the Test pair out of the clash against the Lions next weekend but won’t take any risks.

“We are hopeful because of the natures of the injuries but we are also running out of time and there is no point putting somebody in and that aggravating a situations,” he said. “We will keep monitoring the injuries next week.”