Ankle problem forces Archer surgery
Bristol
October 28, 1999

England second row Garath Archer will undergo an operation on his ankle next week.
The 24-year-old Bristol player could then be out of action for up to 12 weeks, and may miss the beginning of England's Six Nations campaign as a result.

Although he will play tonight against Harlequins, as his club bid to return to the top of the Allied Dunbar Premiership One, Bristol's Director of Rugby, Bob Dwyer, feels that the palyer must undergo the operation.

`To say the ankle is frozen is a bit of an exaggeration but he has a very limited range of movement and the joint is all gummed up. If we get it done now then he may be right first thing in January.''

Dwyer also criticised the way in which Archer's injury was managed when he was on World Cup duty.

"In Garath's case, England thought they could manage his injury throughout the tournament. It was a very short-term view. In fact, had the decision been taken a few months ago, the chances are that he could have been back and fit for the World Cup.

"It's happened with other players such as John Eales and Stephen Larkham. But I don't know what diagnosis England were given."

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