Internationals - Byrne blow for Wales

Eurosport - Wed, 14 Oct 10:59:00 2009

Full-back Lee Byrne has been ruled out of Wales' autumn international series after suffering ligament damage in his right foot.

Lee Byrne - Wales - 0

The Ospreys star limped off during Sunday's 32-32 Heineken Cup draw at Leicester with a recurrence of the injury which forced him out of the Lions tour in the summer.

British and Irish Lions tourist Byrne (pictured) will be in plaster for six weeks before beginning a period of rehabilitation.

Wales will also be without the Ospreys lock Ian Evans, who has been sidelined for eight weeks after tearing his pec major tendon playing for Swansea against Pontypridd.

Wales' autumn campaign starts against New Zealand on November 7 followed by games on successive weekends against Samoa, Argentina and Australia.

Ospreys physio Chris Tower said: "Lee was reviewed by a specialist, and he had a scan which has revealed ligament damage in his right foot.

"The problem is a fairly subtle issue, however, with the nature of the ligaments involved, there is no quick fix and to rush him back would be counter productive in the long term.

"He is essentially looking at a period of rest, in plaster, for approximately six weeks, followed by a period of rehabilitation to get him up and running and back on the field."

Evans had only just returned from 10 months out with a knee injury.

Tower continued: "Ian Evans has suffered a tear of his pec major tendon and having discussed the injury with a specialist he is provisionally looking at an eight week lay-off, based on our knowledge of previous injuries of this nature."

Byrne's injury provides Wales head coach Warren Gatland with a potentional problem at full-back. Gatland could switch Leigh Halfpenny to 15 and start with Shane Williams and Mark Jones on the wings, or even move James Hook from the midfield.

The Scarlets' Dan Evans wores the full-back jersey on Wales' summer tour to the USA when Byrne was with the Lions but Gatland is unlikely to risk the youngster against three of the world's leading teams.

Better news for Gatland came when it was announced prop Gethin Jenkins is set to play for Cardiff Blues against Sale in the Henieken Cup on Friday, his first game since picking up a shoulder injury playing for the Lions in South Africa.

Jenkin's Blues team-mate, veteran flanker Martyn Williams, could also be fit in time, while scrum-half Dwayne Peel is back in action for Sales and offers Gatland back-up options to first choice Mike Phillips.

Terence O'Rorke / / PA Sport

Comment 1 - 8 of 8

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  1. No. 7, for a start look at the population difference­ between North and South. Plus plenty of players from­ Powys and Aberystwyth in the last few years. Not­ exactly South Wales...

    From Jake, on Wed 21 Oct 12:46AM

  2. Why isn't the team called South Wales as there are­ never any players in the team from the soccer boys­ north?

    From David, on Sun 18 Oct 6:28AM

  3. Byrne will be a big loss for Wales. Quality players are­ always missed.

    From DAVID, on Thu 15 Oct 11:04AM

  4. i dont see the point in playing roberts out of­ position,you need him in the centre to brake the gain­ line and he isn't that accurate with his­ kicking.hook is better as cover for all the backs.the­ only reason halfpenny plays wing is because byrne is­ better at no15, start of last season halfpenny was­ fullback for the blues and did a very good job, it was­ howley that got him playing on the wing.

    From matthewschris55, on Thu 15 Oct 11:02AM

  5. Would you like to make friends with people from other­ country or place?
    Log on--------- T ALL Cha t ---C o m­ ----
    Then you can get help and suggestions from all­ over the world.
    While you may find your true love or­ friendship there.

    From janetko93, on Thu 15 Oct 3:05AM

  6. my team would be as follows;
    15. Roberts
    14.­ Halfpenny
    13. Shanklin
    12. Hook
    11. Williams
    10.­ S.Jones
    9. Phillips
    8. R.Jones (c)
    7. M.Williams­ (R.Sowden-Taylor)
    6. Powell
    5. A.w.Jones
    4. J.Thomas
    3.­ P. James
    2. Hibbard
    1. Jenkins
    Halfpenny isnt physical­ enough to be fullback, and Hook is wasted as a­ distributor at 15. Roberts is physical and has a big­ enough boot to fill in at 15, and with Shanklin at 13,­ you dont lose anything in terms of penetration.
    Byrne­ is a huge loss, he cannot be replaced, i think this is­ the best way to make-do.
    Dont underestimate the loss of­ Adam Jones either. Hes worth his considerable weight in­ gold.

    From moggie2727, on Wed 14 Oct 7:54PM

  7. #1 that looks a good team, the back line especially. I­ hope we get some "southern hemisphere scalps"­ again this year.

    From jonghughes, on Wed 14 Oct 2:16PM

  8. 15,halfpenny
    14,mark jones/tom­ james
    13,shaklin
    12,roberts
    11,williams
    10,steve­ jones/dan bigger (hook as utulity of the­ bench)
    9.philips
    8.martyn williams/dafedd­ thomas
    7,jones
    6.powell
    5.gough
    4.a.w­ jones
    3?
    2.rees/ken owens
    1.jenkins

    From matthewschris55, on Wed 14 Oct 12:24PM
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