Alun-Wyn Jones set to miss start of Wales’s Grand Slam defence
Thursday 15 November 2012
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EmailRugby Union: Ospreys lock Alun-Wyn Jones is likely to be stuck on the sidelines for the beginning of Wales’ Six Nations title defence after being ruled out for up to 16 weeks with a shoulder injury.
Jones, 27, suffered the injury towards the end of the first half of the Dragons’ disappointing defeat to Argentina last Saturday.
He was immediately ruled out of the remaining autumn international Tests and now scans on the injury have revealed that the Ospreys skipper will have to undergo surgery to reconstruct his AC joint ligaments.
As a result he will go under the knife later this week before beginning a lengthy recovery.
Ospreys physio Chris Towers said: “He is due to undergo the surgery at the end of this week, and we will be looking at a 12-16 week rehab process post-op to get him back on the field.”
The injury is a significant blow to the Ospreys as Jones will definitely miss the remainder of their testing European Cup Pool Two campaign, with crucial games against Toulouse (twice), Leicester and Treviso still to come.
It is also doubtful Jones will be fit for the start of the Six Nations.
A 16-week absence would see the Lions second row miss the first three games of Wales’ campaign against Ireland, France and Italy.
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