• Six Nations

Dwayne Peel could only miss two weeks of action

Scrum.com staff
January 19, 2010
Dwayne Peel could be out for two weeks, rather than eight as initially feared © Getty Images
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Dwayne Peel has handed a major boost to Wales coach Warren Gatland with the news that his groin injury is not as serious as first feared.

Scrum-half Peel limped out of Sale's Heineken Cup defeat to Cardiff Blues on Saturday and was tipped to be out for up to eight weeks, causing him to be omitted from the Wales squad for the Six Nations.

Wales' opening Six Nations match is at Twickenham on February 6, with Gareth Cooper, Martin Roberts and the uncapped Richie Rees in line to wear No.9 if Peel is absent. The Sale player finished the November Tests as Wales' incumbent scrum-half following their heavy defeat to Australia.

Peel could be able to reprise this role during the Six Nations following positive feedback from medical staff. "The specialist scanned the injury and it's a groin strain," Peel said. "Hopefully I should be back in full training in a couple of weeks."

One player definitely set to feature in the Six Nations is wing Leigh Halfpenny, despite the Blues wing requiring surgery to correct a shoulder problem. Halfpenny will likely miss Wales' summer tour to New Zealand to undergo the procedure.

"Leigh may not be available for the summer tour as he needs a shoulder operation," Gatland told BBC Sport. "We understand it is just a tidy up of a shoulder and he should be back for the start of next season."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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