Rugby story by Carl Anders, Fri, 30 Dec 2005 17:32:00 GMT


Wales have been dealt another blow as full-back Kevin Morgan is slated to miss the rest of the season with a dislocated foot. Morgan injured his foot in the Dragons' match with Cardiff Blues.
It has emerged that the 28-year-old Morgan will have to undergo an operation to fix his main bone in the ankle.

This means that he is likely to miss at least four weeks of action effectively putting paid to his hopes of competing in the Six Nations scheduled for February. Announcing the injury, Dragons manager Jim McCreedy said, "Kevin will be out for four months, which effectively rules him out for the rest of the season. It is a bitter blow as he is an influential player for the Dragons and Wales. We wish him a speedy recovery."

This was a further blow to Wales who have already lost the services of Gavin Henson after he was disciplined for his foul on Moreno. Winger Gareth Wyatt has dislocated his elbow last week and joined Jason Forster with a groin injury, Steve Jones with a knee injury and Richard Bryan with a knee injury on the sidelines. Wales coach Mike Ruddock has a big headache, but he as hopeful of managing, "I'm gutted he's out for the Six Nations, but more gutted for Kevin.

He's been so unlucky with injuries - such a talented player could have won 136 caps, but in some ways his very bravery costs him," he said. "He'll be back for us, but we are fortunate to have players like Lee Byrne, Rhys Williams, Haldane Luscombe, Dafydd James and Barry Davies who can cover."

Ruddock was confident that Morgan would make a comeback sooner rather than later since he believed in himself. "If anyone can come back and be better than ever it's Kevin, he has such a strong mind-set," he said. Ruddock is expected to name his first squad for the Six Nations next week.

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