WILLEM Nel, a key player for Vern Cotter’s Scotland side, has been ruled out of the RBS Six Nations Championship because of a neck injury, and could face a longer absence if it is decided that surgery is required.
A statement from Scottish Rugby yesterday confirmed what had been feared since the tighthead prop was injured while playing for Edinburgh last Saturday.
While the initial cause for concern was his failure of a head-injury assessment, it became clear this week he had also suffered a recurrence of a neck strain that kept him out for more than two months.
“A MRI scan on Wednesday at Spire Murrayfield Hospital revealed that the tighthead prop damaged an intervertebral disc in his neck during a significant collision in his club’s European Challenge Cup win over Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop last Saturday,” Scottish Rugby said. “Nel will now have a second specialist assessment at Spire on Monday to consider his programme of recovery.”
If surgery is required, it is probable that Nel will not play again this season.
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