Interim coach Rob Howley is facing major problems in the second-row department with former captain Ryan Jones the latest casualty.
Jones, who has played for Wales at No 8, flanker and lock, went to hospital in Swansea on Sunday night after suffering a suspected dislocated thumb during the Ospreys' 15-15 Heineken Cup draw with Leicester at the Liberty Stadium.
"Ryan has gone off to hospital," said Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy said. "I think he has got a dislocation of his thumb. It may have popped through the skin as well."
Locks Alun-Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies and Ian Evans are also all currently injured.
Howley's fresh injury worries are not restricted to the second-row as Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard was forced off in Sunday's game with what appeared to be a recurrence of shoulder trouble.
Hibbard is currently the form hooker in Wales and a hot favourite to start against Ireland on 2 February ahead of Scarlets pair Matthew Rees and Ken Owens.
"We have been patching him (Hibbard) up since he hurt the same shoulder playing for Wales against Samoa in November, if I am honest," Tandy said.
"The way he goes about his business and turns up every week is just a ridiculous effort from the boy.
"We just had to take the kid off because he would have done himself harm otherwise."
Charteris, fly-half Rhys Priestland and prop Aaron Jarvis are confirmed long-term injury absentees, while Howley has also lost centre Ashley Beck (ankle) until late February.
And star flanker Dan Lydiate, player of the tournament in last season's Six Nations, has not yet started his comeback from a serious ankle injury sustained three months ago.
Howley's squad is likely to include Australia-born James King, who played his early rugby in north Wales with Mold, while his uncapped Ospreys colleague Lloyd Peers could also feature.
Such is the extent of Wales' second-row injury problems, that a recall for 36-year-old Ian Gough might even be considered after an outstanding display against Leicester.
Source : http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12507/8395940/Ryan-Jones-latest-injury-concern-Wales
