Wales' Six Nations preparations have been thrown into chaos after 47-year-old coach Duncan Jones suffered a freak injury in training. The incident, which occurred on Friday during a live training session, resulted in both knees being badly hurt and Jones will now undergo surgery.
With scrum expert Jones out of commission, head coach Steve Tandy has been left without his key man ahead of the team's opening Six Nations match against England at the Allianz Stadium. The loss of Jones is a significant blow to Wales' chances of success in the tournament, particularly in terms of their set-piece.
Tandy acknowledged that Jones' absence will be a distraction for the team, but he also expressed his support for his colleague and teammate, stating: "I'm disappointed for Duncan because I know how much it means to him to coach his country and be around the group." The head coach added that Jones was still in camp on Wednesday reviewing the scrums before the injury occurred.
It remains to be seen whether Wales will need to bring in specialist scrum expertise, although former hooker Danny Wilson has previously coached the set-piece. With Tandy and his coaching team assessing the situation, they must weigh up the options ahead of their match against England.
With scrum expert Jones out of commission, head coach Steve Tandy has been left without his key man ahead of the team's opening Six Nations match against England at the Allianz Stadium. The loss of Jones is a significant blow to Wales' chances of success in the tournament, particularly in terms of their set-piece.
Tandy acknowledged that Jones' absence will be a distraction for the team, but he also expressed his support for his colleague and teammate, stating: "I'm disappointed for Duncan because I know how much it means to him to coach his country and be around the group." The head coach added that Jones was still in camp on Wednesday reviewing the scrums before the injury occurred.
It remains to be seen whether Wales will need to bring in specialist scrum expertise, although former hooker Danny Wilson has previously coached the set-piece. With Tandy and his coaching team assessing the situation, they must weigh up the options ahead of their match against England.