Hammer blow for Ospreys as Wales pair are ruled out

WALES stars Jac Morgan and Scott Baldwin have both been told their seasons are likely to be over following injuries on Wales duty.

The pair both require surgery in a huge double blow for the Ospreys ahead of their European Champions Cup knockout match against Saracens and the chase for a United Rugby Championship play-off spot.

While there is no suggestion the injuries put their World Cup hopes in jeopardy, it is far from ideal in what is a big year for all Welsh players.

Wales have three summer warmup games arranged against England (twice) and South Africa.

An Ospreys statement read: “Both Scott Baldwin and Jac Morgan will require surgery following injuries they picked up on Wales duty.

“Baldwin has already undergone surgery after picking up a pec injury in Wales’ Guinness Six Nations win against Italy, whilst Morgan is set to have surgery on his ankle this week after sustaining an injury in training in the build up to the France game.

“It is likely that both players will miss the remainder of the Ospreys’ season.”

Morgan in particular is likely to form a key part of Wales’ plans going forward, having started three of Wales’ Six Nations matches in the back row before injury ruled him out of the finale against France.

Wales and Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies is also not expected to play again this season. Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel confirmed the centre is unlikely to feature, having suffered an injury against Bayonne in January.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Sharks (5pm kickoff ), Peel said: “Jon Fox is still struggling with his calf/Achilles. I don’t see him playing much rugby for a while.”

As for back-three man Johnny

McNicholl, who suffered a “nasty knee injury” in the 49-42 defeat to Munster earlier this month, the prognosis is not as bad as first feared.

“I wouldn’t say Johnny McNicholl is [ruled out for the rest of the season] but I’d say Jonathan Davies probably is, yeah,” Peel said. “Johnny [McNicholl] is going okay, he’s not going to be available for a while. He’d be touch and go, maybe, to play again this season. That’s more positive than what it looked like when he came off.”