Friday Round-Up

Dunbar’s year up: Scottish centre Alex Dunbar will sit out the remainder of this season after suffering a worrying injury during his side’s final training session before departing from Murrayfield on Thursday. Just days out from his side’s visit to Twickenham to take on the old enemy England, it has been revealed that Dunbar ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee. In order to repair the damage, the Glasgow Warriors man will need to undergo surgery and is expected to be sidelined for a total of six to nine months, putting this availability for this year’s World Cup in England in serious doubt. Confirming the news to the media, the Scottish Medical staff expressed their gratitude towards the staff at Spire Murrayfield Hospital, where Dunbar was treated and given the support needed. Arguably one of Scotland’s few shining lights this tournament to date, Dunbar will be sorely missed by Vern Cotter at Twickenham.

Heaslip returns: Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has made just a solitary change to his side to take on Wales in Cardiff this weekend, as they look to continue their unbeaten run on the way to a Grand Slam. Having recovered from the back injury imposed upon him by the knee of French second row forward Pascap Pape, Heaslip has made a full recovery and takes over at no.8 from fellow Leinster man Jordi Murphy. Heaslip’s return shifts the versatile Murphy to te replacement bench, while Munster’s Tommy O’Donnell is unfortunate to miss out. Despite some pressure in Irish rugby circles, Schmidt has resisted the temptation to bring Cian Healy back into the starting XV, instead keeping the faith with Jack McGrath at loose head after an impressive few games for the Leinster loosehead. In another injury bonus, both Jonathan Sexton and Jared Payne are fit and have been named in what is fast becoming a hugely impressive Irish outfit.

Ryan Sheady