Cupar star facing Six Nations blow

16-week lay-off for Horne as team-mate Hughes is also sidelined

Cupar’s Peter Horne looks likely to be ruled out of the entire RBS 6 Nations after being told he needs ankle surgery.

The Scotland back is expected to be out for 16 weeks. His Glasgow team-mate Rory Hughes faces around eight weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Both men were carried off on stretchers during Glasgow’s narrow Guinness PRO12 defeat by Munster last Friday night.

A Warriors statement read: “Stand-off Horne sustained knee and ankle injuries and his ankle requires surgical repair at BMI Ross Hall Hospital. He is expected to be out of action for up to 16 weeks.”

“Winger Hughes sustained a knee injury and will also undergo surgery at BMI Ross Hall Hospital. He is expected to remain on the sidelines for up to eight weeks,” added the statement.

Horne was among the replacements for two of Scotland’s three autumn Tests while Hughes set up a try against Georgia after coming off the bench.

Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend confessed he was worried the pair would be ruled out for longer.

He said: “It’s a blow. We knew it was going to be disappointing news given the way the injuries were at the weekend.

“But they are actually not as bad as some of our worst fears.

“Peter has had a really serious ACL knee injury in the past but that is fine and Rory’s is not as bad as we feared either.

“These are two of our hardest working players and we know they will work hard on their rehab to make sure they can come back as quickly as possible.”

Townsend has refused to count Horne out of the latter stages of the Six Nations.

He said: “Peter was involved in all three games for Scotland during November, covering at stand-off and at centre, and he’s been excellent for us.

“It doesn’t rule him out of the entire Six Nations and he will have a target to come back at some point during that period.”

The injury set-back is the last thing Warriors need as they prepare to face Racing 92 in Saturday’s Champions Cup clash in Paris, but Townsend is trying to remain upbeat.

He said :“It’ s a fact of life. We’ ve got a big squad and have had to deal with injuries in the same positions this year. We’ve had four second rows out at one point.

“We’ve got two wingers currently out in Leonardo Sarto and Rory now.

“It’s a blow as you want your best players playing in these big games. But we have a strong squad and it’s an opportunity for someone else.”