Faletau and Charteris to miss Wales' opening Six Nations fixture against Italy

Wales' upcoming Six Nations campaign have been dealt a major blow as back-row Taulupe Faletau and lock Luke Charteris have been ruled out of the opening game against Italy on Sunday.

Wales assistant coach Robin McBryde confirmed that Faletau hasn't recovered completely from the knee injury he sustained while playing for his club Bath while Charteris is suffering a fractured hand.

The 26-year-old Faletau had earlier missed three autumn international fixture for Wales after a knee injury which he suffered during his Bath debut.

After successfully returning back to action, Faletau sustained another knee problem during Bath's Aviva Premiership clash against Wasps last month, which had shut his hopes of featuring in the Six Nations opening game against Italy on 4th February.

Asked about Faletau at the Wales training base on Tuesday, McBryde said: "He is still progressing. It is still early days. Everything is heading in the right direction there, really.

"(Fit) for this week? No, it will be too early this week."

And on Charteris, McBryde added: "He has a slight fracture in his hand, so he has been ruled out for this weekend as well. Hopefully, he will be fit for the following week."

Gloucester's Ross Moriarty is likely to take the place of Faletau while Scarlets lock Jake Ball will team up with captain Alun Wyn Jones in the second row. Interim coach Rob Howley is expected to announce the line-up on Thursday.