Elias enjoying rugby again after 'low period'

Wales and Scarlets hooker Ryan Elias says he is "feeling good mentally and physically" having come through a spell when he was not enjoying rugby.

Elias has revealed that he endured a "difficult period" following the 2023 World Cup.

But the 31-year-old says he is now relishing playing for both his region and the national side.

"There was definitely a low period in my rugby where I definitely didn't enjoy it, probably two seasons ago," Elias said.

"I think it was off the back of the World Cup. Between injuries, I didn't really have much of an off-season.

"I missed the first six, seven weeks [after] my first child being born being away at the World Cup. Then you come back and it just seemed like everything got on top of me.

"I wasn't enjoying my rugby and that was a difficult period for me. I didn't think I was playing my best rugby either, which doesn't help."

Elias, who has two young daughters, says he turned the corner after a conversation with Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel.

The duo talked about "getting back to basics" in order to ensure 48-cap Elias began enjoying rugby once more.

"I sat down and built a plan on how I was going to do that, which is basically how I perform, what I was putting out on the pitch, then rebuild myself back off it as well," Elias explained.

"It was good. It's nice to be over that bit of a lull, tough period.

"But I think it's important to have those periods to enjoy the good times, and hopefully there are some good times to come over the next couple of seasons."

Elias' most recent injury was a bicep issue picked up in pre-season last summer which ruled him out of Wales' autumn internationals.

But having returned to fitness, he was included in Steve Tandy's first Six Nations squad and featured as a replacement in Wales' final four games of the tournament.

Elias hopes to be included once more on when Tandy names his squad on Monday for the inaugural Nations Championship in July, but the first target is to try to ensure Scarlets finish a difficult season on a high note.

Peel's side face Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship (URC) in Bridgend on Saturday (17:30 BST), before finishing the season with a home game against Dragons seven days later.

"They are massive games for us. In the context of the season, we aren't really playing for anything other than pride for ourselves, the club and the supporters," Elias said.

"With us not being in the play-off picture, it's almost a window for us to be able to build on what we want to produce next year and hopefully kick on next season.

"Off the back of that, if I was to be selected for Wales, there are some big Test matches coming and it's exciting."