Crabb set to be out until end of the year

WALES and Gloucester-Hartpury second-row Gwen Crabb is not expected to return to the field much before Christmas after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament during the Women’s Six Nations.

The 23-year-old forward sustained the serious knee injury six minutes into Wales’ tournamentopening win against Ireland in April, when she was returning to play after fracturing her fibula in December. She has undergone surgery and faces a return date between December 2023 and February 2024.

It means she will miss Wales’ appearance at World Rugby’s new women’s competition WXV this autumn.

Gloucester-Hartpury Women coach Sean Lynn told WalesOnline: “She’ll be coming back into next season. Knowing Gwen and how she looks after herself, her rehab, everything she does just epitomises what a pro rugby player should be about. She will work constantly on her rehab. The amount of effort she put in to get over her ankle injury to get ready for the Six Nations was amazing.

“I’ve had real positive chats with her already after her op on her knee, and she’s in a real good place and she’ll work hard. Fingers crossed she’ll be ready by Christmas time next season.”

■ Australia coach Eddie Jones has backtracked on comments suggesting he might quit the Wallabies job after this year’s World Cup in France.

The former England coach signed a five-year deal to return to the Australia job in January, but his comments on the Evening Standard Rugby Podcast cast doubt on whether he’d even be in the role for a full year.

It also led Rugby Australia officials to contact him and his management for clarification.

“I’m only coaching ‘til this World Cup,” Jones told the podcast.

“I’ve signed [until the end of 2027], but as I’ve made the mistake before, I’ve stayed too long. So, we win the World Cup, it will be time to go. If we lose the World Cup, it will be time to go.”

Jones has previously expressed regret about continuing as England’s coach beyond the 2019 World Cup.

In a statement last week, Rugby Australia expressed confidence that Jones would see out his full five-year contract. And, in an effort to clear up any confusion, Jones reached out to the Sydney Morning Herald to reaffirm his commitment to coaching the Wallabies through to the 2027 World Cup.

“I am here for five years,’ Jones said. “But my only concentration is this Rugby World Cup, so I don’t think past that.”