News

Evans' season could be over

November 24 2008

Wales forward Ian Evans looks set to miss the entire Six Nations after suffering a serious knee injury against New Zealand.

The Ospreys lock was hurt during the Grand Slam holders Millennium Stadium defeat on Saturday.

And the full extent of Evans' injury has now emerged, with Wales Team Manager Alan Phillips believing he could be out for six to nine months.

"There is cruciate damage, and we are looking at an operation in the next couple of weeks, and then between six and nine months after that," said Phillips.

"It is quite a blow for us. He was starting to play well, so it is very disappointing for him."

Evans looks likely to be replaced in the Wales team against Australia next Saturday by his Ospreys lock colleague Ian Gough.

Wales boss Warren Gatland is due to name his starting line-up for the Wallabies clash on Tuesday, with Evans' absence possibly now the only change after Gloucester made scrum-half Gareth Cooper available.

Cooper looked set to miss the Australia match, together with squad scrum-half colleague Dwayne Peel.

Because the fixture falls outside the National Rugby Board autumn Test window, clubs had first call on their players, and both Gloucester and Sale have Guinness Premiership fixtures next weekend.

After talks between Gloucester chief Tom Walkinshaw, Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive Roger Lewis and Rugby Football Union chairman Martyn Thomas, Cooper will now remain with Wales to prepare for the Australia encounter.