Wales and Scarlets hooker Ken Owens has announced his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect on medical grounds.

After over a week’s discontent surrounding whether or not England’s trip to Wales would be postponed, Steve Borthwick says his squad “empathise wholeheartedly” with what their opponents have had to go through.

Wales will miss the services of hooker Ken Owens for the remainder of the autumn international campaign following a back injury.

With tours in 2013 and 2017 going to the wire, will it be another positive outcome for Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions?

Wales begin their Six Nations campaign on Sunday against Ireland and the pressure may be starting to mount on head coach Wayne Pivac.