Sheedy is forced off after hit from behind

WALES fly-half Callum Sheedy was an early departure from Bristol Bears’ 34-17 bonus-point win over Newcastle Falcons due to a shoulder charge.

Adam Brocklebank was given a yellow card for a late no-arms hit on Sheedy, who was pictured in discomfort lying on the pitch before receiving treatment.

He attempted to continue but – after being “clattered from behind”, as BT Sport’s commentary team dubbed it – lasted just another minute before he was replaced on 13 minutes by fellow Welshman Ioan Lloyd.

Referee Christophe Ridley said: “He had a chance to pull out and he didn’t. It’s not even a tackle.

“If it was a legal tackle, it would be a penalty but it’s an illegal tackle so it’s a yellow card.”

Austin Healey said: “It’s with force, it’s in the lower back. You can cause a lot of damage to a fellow professional by doing something like that.”

Pat Lam later told BT Sport of Sheedy’s exit: “I make no secret of it, he could stand here and talk the game, he could take my place as the coach – he understands the way I want to play the game, he understands our game really well and he calls it and he’s a really good leader.”

The Bears trailed 10-0 approaching the half-hour mark at Kingston Park but three late first-half tries turned the game on its head.

Two more followed after the interval as Bristol retained their 12-point advantage at the summit going into next weekend’s clash with second-placed Exeter.

Danny Care has a shot of claiming a place on the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, according to Harlequins assistant coach Jerry Flannery.

Care opened the scoring in a 50-26 victory over Worcester at Twickenham Stoop and was influential throughout his 64 minutes on the field as Quins climbed to fourth in the Gallagher Premiership.

The 34-year-old scrum-half won the last of his 84 England caps in 2018 after falling out of favour with Eddie Jones, but his electric form this season has seen him emerge as a bolter for the Lions when Warren Gatland names his squad on May 6.

“I wouldn’t discount it. I thought Danny was very good,” said Quins defence coach Flannery.

“If you’re looking through the Premiership at the moment, you’d be hard pushed to find someone who is playing better than him.”