Wales fly-half Costelow out until January

Scarlets are not expecting Sam Costelow to return until January after the Wales fly-half picked up shoulder and hamstring injuries during the 49-26 win against Barbarians.

He is the favourite to be Wales' fly-half during the 2024 Six Nations.

Wales open the tournament against Scotland in Cardiff on 3 February.

Costelow is expected to miss at least six United Rugby Championship matches and the opening two rounds of Europe's Challenge Cup for Scarlets.

Wales fly-half poser

Costelow is expected to step into the Wales number 10 berth vacated by the retirement of Dan Biggar and departure of Gareth Anscombe to Japan.

The 22-year-old made his first Test start in the summer friendlies against England, featuring again against South Africa before appearing in four of Wales' five games at the World Cup.

Rhys Patchell, Joe Hawkins and Jarrod Evans have made themselves ineligible for selection by head coach Warren Gatland after moving to clubs outside Wales - in New Zealand and England - while Rhys Priestland left Cardiff at the end of last season and has indicated he is unlikely to play again.

Callum Sheedy is available, with Gatland stating he will be going to watch the Bristol playmaker in action, while the New Zealander also name-checked Dragons young fly-half Will Reed.

Gatland also stated he would like to see Cardiff centre Ben Thomas play at fly-half and even indicated scrum-half Tomos Williams could fill in at number 10.

Costelow's Scarlets team-mate Ioan Lloyd may also be an option, while Ospreys' Owen Williams started games in the 2023 Six Nations and was part of the extended World Cup training group before being left out of the final 33-strong squad.