Sport

Easterby likely to miss four months

Irish international flanker Simon Easterby could be out for up to four months with a snapped Achilles tendon

Tue Aug 15 2000 - 01:00

Irish international flanker Simon Easterby could be out for up to four months with a snapped Achilles tendon. Easterby, who played a significant part in helping Llanelli win last season's Welsh Challenge Cup and to reach the European Cup semi-final, tore the tendon during Sunday's pre-season training session at Stradey Park.

His right leg has been immobilised by plaster, although he will undergo a scan today to determine the full extent of the problem.

"It is a major blow to Simon and the club, just two weeks before the start of the season," said team manager Anthony Buchannan. "But these are the problems you have to contend with and we do have some fine players in the back row department. As far as Simon is concerned, he is a true professional who will work his hardest to make sure his time out of the game will be as short as possible.

"He will undergo further examinations this week, but I suppose we are looking at up to four months before he comes back."

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Easterby played 27 times for Llanelli last season and made his full Ireland debut in last season's Six Nations Championship. He played in the final four championship games, including the final game against Wales at Lansdowne Road.

However, that joy has turned to disappointment now and he will miss Ireland's autumn internationals against Japan and South Africa and Llanelli's pool games in this season's European Cup.

Easterby said, "I will have a scan tomorrow (Tuesday) and that will determine the extent of the injury. I don't want to speculate or say anything more about it until that has been done."

Ireland and Harlequins hooker Keith Wood says it would be the greatest honour of his career if he was to be named the captain for the Lions' tour of Australia next year. "It would be a huge honour for me to be named as captain for the British Lions' tour next summer," Wood said. "It will not be the end of the world if I do not get the job, but it would unquestionably be one of the highlights of my career. The tour is still a year away and therefore a player can pick up an injury or suffer a loss of form," added Wood.