Thom Evans, Chris Paterson and Rory Lamont will not be able to play for Scotland again in this year's Six Nations due to the injuries they suffered during Saturday's dramatic 31-24 loss to Wales. Evans had surgery on his neck on Saturday evening after suffering the injury in a clash with Lee Byrne. He was carried off on a stretcher, but was yesterday able to move his limbs. He will not feature again for his country or club Glasgow Warriors this season.
"Remarkably we will see Thom up and about in a couple of weeks and then it will be a long period of rest and recuperation, but that is the end of his season," said James Robson, the team doctor. "He was able to talk to us comfortably before he went to theatre and the operation was successful." Paterson also remained in University Hospital Cardiff for observation yesterday after suffering heavy bruising to his right kidney during the game. He was expected to be released today, but Robson said he will be out of the game for up to 10 weeks.
Lamont suffered medial ligament damage to a knee. He will see a specialist today but is not expected to return before the end of the tournament, The injuries, in particular the serious one suffered by Evans, have raised fresh concerns about the safety of players. But Gavin Hastings, the former Scotland player, suggested that injuries are no more common now than before but they are more high profile.
"Everyone knows the physicality of rugby is very much apparent," he said."At the highest level the players' fitness levels are so fantastic that these injuries I think are not as common. " South Wales Police confirmed last night that Andy Powell, the Welsh forward, was arrested early yesterday. Powell, 28, and another man were driving a golf buggy towards a motorway. * With agencies
