Williams to miss Gloucester’s tough Challenge

WALES star Owen Williams has been ruled out of Gloucester’s European Challenge Cup semi-final against Newcastle tomorrow with injury.

Williams, who had an impressive autumn campaign with Wales, but missed out on Six Nations selection, suffered a shoulder problem in training last week and has not recoverdd.

Head coach Johan Ackermann said: “Owen was very unfortunate. He was originally selected last week and then in Thursday’s training he got a knock on his shoulder.

“We didn’t really think it was serious, but eventually there was a small injury in there, so Billy Burns stepped in and did a great job.

“Owen was not cleared for this week as well, so obviously now it’s just a time thing, but he’s not available.”

Williams joins Gloucester captain Willi Heinz on the injury list, with the skipper facing a fight to play again this season.

Ackermann revealed that the scrum-half has suffered a grade two calf strain, an injury he picked up in the defeat at Exeter earlier this month that caused him to miss Saturday’s Premiership game against Harlequins.

“I had two or three calf strains and some got back in two weeks, some took eight weeks,” said Ackermann.

“Traditionally I think, and I’m not a medic or a doctor, a grade two calf can be three, four, five weeks so he’s only in week two.

“Again it depends on where our season goes if we will still see him.

“Obviously he’s positive that he’ll be back but only time will tell.”

The absence of Heinz means that Callum Braley and Ben Vellacott will once again be vying to start at scrum-half.