Six Nations news: Wales star Leigh Halfpenny ruled out of French clash
Scotland add four players to squad after Hamish Watson breaks his hand
Wales won’t rush Halfpenny back
Wales head coach Warren Gatland does not expect to be able to call upon full-back Leigh Halfpenny for the first rounds of the 2019 Six Nations.
Halfpenny is definitely out of Wales’ first match against France in Paris on 1 February and is also likely to miss the trip to Italy on 9 February. The 30-year-old suffered concussion against Australia in November.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Gatland told the BBC: “We probably won’t consider Leigh Halfpenny for the first couple of games. He is making progress and improving. We are mindful at the moment that he is a bit symptomatic with headaches but he has been taking part in training.
“For us it’s about easing him back in slowly. Hopefully he starts taking a more regular part in training and potentially look at including him towards the end of the tournament.
“He’s been doing a lot of one-on-one work with Neil Jenkins with his kicking, so that’s been a good distraction for him. There’s no pressure from us in trying to rush him back.”
Sky Sports adds that scrum-half Gareth Davies (quad) and centre Scott Williams (ankle) are also injury doubts for the clash in Paris.
Watson breaks hand
Edinburgh back-row Hamish Watson has pulled out of the Scotland Six Nations squad after breaking his hand against Montpellier.
Watson’s injury has forced Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend to add four players to his squad.
Forwards Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh) and Matt Smith (Glasgow Warriors) are included alongside centre Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) and second-row Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors).
2019 Six Nations fixtures and TV guide
Round one
- 1 February: France vs. Wales (8pm, live on BBC)
- 2 February: Scotland vs. Italy (2.15pm, live on BBC); Ireland vs. England (4.45pm, live on ITV)
Round two
- 9 February: Scotland vs. Ireland (2.15pm, live on BBC); Italy vs. Wales (4.45pm, live on ITV)
- 10 February: England vs. France (3pm, live on ITV)
Round three
- 23 February: France vs. Scotland (2.15pm, live on BBC); Wales vs. England (4.45pm, live on BBC)
- 24 February: Italy vs. Ireland (3pm, live on ITV)
Round four
- 9 March: Scotland vs. Wales (2.15pm, live on BBC); England vs. Italy (3pm, live on ITV)
- 10 March: Ireland vs. France (4.45pm, live on ITV)
Round five
- 16 March: Italy vs. France (12.30pm, live on ITV); Wales vs. Ireland (2.45pm, live on BBC)
- 17 March: England vs. Scotland (5pm, live on BBC)
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Can AI tools be used to Hollywood's advantage?
Talking Points It makes some aspects of the industry faster and cheaper. It will also put many people in the entertainment world out of work
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
'Paraguay has found itself in a key position'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Meet Youngmi Mayer, the renegade comedian whose frank new memoir is a blitzkrieg to the genre
The Week Recommends 'I'm Laughing Because I'm Crying' details a biracial life on the margins, with humor as salving grace
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Wales World Cup guide: ‘A red storm is coming to the gates of Qatar’
feature With Michael Sheen’s support behind them, Wales are ready for their World Cup return
By Mike Starling Published
-
Six Nations: a new golden age for French rugby?
feature The hosts of next year’s Rugby World Cup will take some stopping
By The Week Staff Published
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Speed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
By The Week Staff Published
-
2022 Six Nations ‘Super Saturday’: round five fixtures, title permutations, TV, standings
In Depth France are on course for the grand slam, but can Ireland pip them to the title?
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Speed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
Speed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?
Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
By The Week Staff Published
-
Weightlifting: Olympic Games set for transgender first
Speed Read New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will make history at Tokyo 2020
By The Week Staff Published