Rugby Union: Wales suffer again as Evans breaks leg
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Your support makes all the difference.WALES were dealt another serious blow to their preparations for rugby union's Five Nations' Championship and next year's World Cup when their right wing and captain, Ieuan Evans, sustained a fractured fibula in his left leg in Llanelli's Heineken League fixture at Cardiff, which they lost 28-8. Evans was brought down in the 25th minute of the game while embarking on a counter-attack out of defence and the dislocation of his ankle was clear to see from the stand.
Last night, Evans had an hour-long operation at Cardiff Royal Infirmary to have a plate screwed into his ankle. He will be in plaster for a month to six weeks and is hoping to be back in training in the New Year. Derek Quinnell, a Welsh selector, said: 'It's the last thing we wanted, but I'm sure Ieuan will be back sometime during the Five Nations tournament.'
Evans will certainly miss the impending World Cup qualifier against Italy in October, the international against South Africa in late November and his participation in the Five Nations must be in doubt. This latest blow comes 10 days after Wales lost their main forward force, Evans's former Llanelli team-mate Scott Quinnell, to rugby league when he signed for Wigan for pounds 400,000.
Evans, who has 48 caps, has captained Wales a record 25 times and is the most capped Welsh wing. He recently broke his country's try-scoring record when he crossed for his 21st international try in the Welsh win over Romania in Bucharest.
Evans has scored 161 tries for Llanelli, for whom he has played for 10 years. He has scored a record total of 45 tries in the Heineken League.
The unfortunate Evans has previously dislocated his shoulder four times, has undergone two separate operations and has spent a total of two years out of the game through injury.
Rugby union, pages 8 and 9
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