Wales fullback Halfpenny ready to face England

Wales’ Faletau, England’s Vunipola ruled out of Six Nations

LONDON, Feb 12, (RTRS): Leigh Halfpenny will return to Wales training on Wednesday as they prepare for their Six Nations showdown with England at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Feb 23, his club coach Wayne Pivac has said.

Scarlets fullback Halfpenny has not played since suffering a head injury against Australia during the November internationals. But he was named in Warren Gatland’s initial 39-man national squad for the Six Nations last month.

Halfpenny has scored more than 700 points in 80 appearances for Wales, and he has played in three British and Irish Lions tours.

“It’s great to see him running around with a smile on his face,” Pivac told reporters on Tuesday.

“He did everything – full contact, full tackling. We had a mini-game scenario with no hiding places, and he was taking high balls, getting clattered and did everything he needed to do.

“He goes back to Wales available, we feed back information, medical team to medical team, and I have passed a little note on to Warren. Warren will make a call on what he does from there.”

Wales have won their first two games against France and Italy, and the clash against Eddie Jones’ England, who are also unbeaten, is

In this March 17, 2018 file photo, Wales’ Leigh Halfpenny kicks a conversion during the Six Nations rugby union match between Wales and France

at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. (AP)

billed as a potential title decider.

Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau has been ruled out of the Six Nations Championship because he needs another operation on his fractured arm, his club Bath said on Tuesday.

Faletau, 28, sustained the injury playing for his English club Bath last month, a game which marked his comeback from a broken arm.

The British and Irish Lion, who has played more than 70 Tests for Wales, had a slim chance of returning for the final Six Nations match at home to Ireland on March 16.

“We’re gutted for Taulupe, but this is the best course of action for him moving forwards as a player,” Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder said in a statement.

“We will know more in terms of time frames following the surgery.” Warren Gatland’s Wales have won their opening two Six Nations games and next meet England, who also secured victories in their first two matches, in a potential title decider at Cardiff on Feb 23.

England prop Mako Vunipola has been ruled out of the Six Na- tions Championship with an ankle ligament injury, the Rugby Football Union said on Tuesday.

Vunipola picked up the injury during England’s 44-8 victory over France on Sunday and is expected to be out action for 10 weeks.

“It is obviously very disappointing to lose Mako at this stage as he is an important player for us but it does provide an opportunity for the team to grow,” England coach Eddie Jones said.

Vunipola, capped 53 times by England, played a pivotal role in England’s 32-20 win over Ireland in Dublin, claiming the man of the match award.