BBC forced to apologise after website prints Wales second-row's name as 'Jake Ballsack'

Scarlets and Wales lock Jake Ball featured in the 28-33 defeat to Australia at the weekend, but the BBC had a bit of trouble in getting his surname right

Wales second-row Jake Ball (Getty Images)

BBC Sport have issued an apology after a rather embarrassing typo appeared in their Wales line-up for the weekend clash with Australia after publishing a second-row by the name of “Jake Ballsack.”

The Scarlets lock – correctly named Jake Ball – was making his sixth appearance for Wales after making his debut in the Six Nations earlier this year.

The 23-year-old played 68 minutes in the narrow 28-33 defeat to Australia, the 10th straight loss to the Wallabies and one that sees the wait for a victory against one of the big three in the Southern Hemisphere continue, having not beaten one of Australia, New Zealand or South Africa since 2008.

However, you wouldn’t have known Ball played in the match after the error appeared in the team-sheet on the BBC Sport website.

The Independent’s columnist Jamie Roberts was one of the first to spot the error, as he posted on Twitter: “Haha spot the error @BBCSport @BBCWalesSport ...I'll give you a clue - he plays second row for us!!”

A spokeswoman told www.walesonline.co.uk that the error had been corrected as soon as the BBC had been made aware, and added that they are looking into how the error managed to find its way onto their website.

Wales second-row Jake Ball tackles Australian hooker Saia Fainga'a (Getty Images)

“We are investigating how this error occurred and the piece was amended as soon as it was spotted. We apologise for any offence that may have been caused,” the spokeswoman said.