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Adam Beard piles more misery on Warren Gatland
By Josh Raisey
Wales and Ospreys second-row Adam Beard is in a race to take part in the Six Nations next year.
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The 28-year-old missed Wales’ loss to South Africa at the weekend with a knee injury that he sustained against Australia the week before. His Ospreys head coach Toby Booth has now revealed that he will be out for “at least three months” with the injury.
Beard will therefore miss the start of the Six Nations, with his participation in any part of the tournament in doubt.
This is yet more damaging news to Wales head coach Warren Gatland ahead of next year’s Championship, should he remain in the job.
Wales extended their losing run to 12 matches against the Springboks in a match where they looked seriously underpowered up front. Though Beard would not have been the deciding factor in the result, his 2.03m frame would have helped Wales’ cause. In light of a disastrous 2024, Gatland will find out whether he will keep hold of his job in the near future.
The Ospreys face fellow United Rugby Championship strugglers Zebre this weekend in Parma before facing the Lions and Montpellier – who Beard is expected to join – in the Challenge Cup.
“The big downer is Adam Beard’s injury which is going to be a long-term one,” said Booth ahead of the weekend, as reported by WalesOnline. “There’s a few months to go on that.
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“That’s the biggest kick in the teeth really because he’s such a big part of what we do. It’ll be at least three months.”