Josh Adams has been banned by Wales from the opening two matches of the Six Nations after breaching Covid-19 protocols and lockdown regulations by attending a family gathering on Sunday. The Cardiff Blues wing, a regular in the side for the last three seasons and the top try scorer at the 2019 World Cup, will miss the matches against Ireland in Cardiff on Sunday and Scotland at Murrayfield the following weekend with Wales’s head coach, Wayne Pivac, expressing his “extreme disappointment” at the breach. Wales’s players were given three days off on Saturday and told to remain at home. The players had been briefed about the Covid protocols at a time when the French government is still considering whether to allow its national side to play against teams from Britain and Ireland because of its concern over the spread of variants. The squad returned to camp on Tuesday when Adams’s family trip became known and, after admitting breaching the rules, he was sent home. All the players were tested when they came back and the results were all negative. A further round will be conducted on Thursday. “Josh embarrassed himself and will do his penance at home,” said Pivac. “What he did came to my attention on our first day back and we dealt with it swiftly. It was a breach of team and Six Nations protocols and the lockdown. It put others at risk and was worthy of suspension. “Josh was up front about what he had done, apologetic and remorseful. He was at a family member’s home not far from where he lives for a quiet celebration and there was no alcohol. He made an error of judgment and can do no more than apologise. He will remain at home until Monday when he will rejoin us to help prepare the side for Scotland, if he tests negative again. “We called a team meeting last night and reinforced the protocols further. We will not be calling up anyone to replace Josh because, with Covid, we do not want to be bringing people in and out.” Wales are without the suspended Liam Williams for Ireland so the Gloucester wing Louis Rees-Zammit, who started three matches in the autumn, is in line to replace Adams. “He will be expecting a call and I would be very surprised if he did not get it,” said Pivac. The incident was not what Pivac needed as he looks to improve on last year’s Six Nations showing when Wales won just one match. “Covid challenges you and it is about how you adapt,” he said. “It will be a big test for both sides and we are in better shape than we were in the autumn.”