Lee Byrne is out of Wales’ Autumn Internationals
Wales, British and Irish Lion Lee Byrne will be ruled out of three of the November internationals.
The full-back fractured a metacarpal bone in his right hand during the Osprey’s Magners League 31-23 loss to Glasgow.
The Osprey’s back is now set to miss the Welsh matches with South Africa, Fiji and the team’s opening game against Australia on 6 November.
Byrne may recover in time to face New Zealand in their final game of the Autumn Internationals on 27 November, but his chances of making the Test are doubtful.
The Welsh team’s physiotherapist Mark Davies said, "Lee [Byrne] will be given a specialist opinion on whether his injury is treatable with a cast, if that is the case, rather than surgery, he will have an outside chance of being back for the All Blacks game."
Cardiff Blues utility back Chris Czekaj has been called up to replace Byrne by the Welsh coach Warren Gatland.
The player gets a deserved call up after just losing out on a place in the original 34-man squad. Czekaj can play on either wing or at full-back, but is unlikely to start the first Test.
Gatland is now expected to select Leigh Halfpenny or James Hook at full-back. Halfpenny also picked up an ankle injury in the match against Glasgow and he is to undergo a scan to see how serious the injury is.
The injury is not expected to be too serious and it is believed that the player will be able to take his place in the team for the Autumn Internationals.
Gatland was concerned about the number of injuries picked up in the Osprey’s Magners League match. Tom Prydie, who came on for Byrne, was later replaced and forwards Ryan Jones, Bradley Davies and Richie Rees all picked up knocks.
The Welsh coach has found himself short on cover with Byrne’s injury and Wales will now have to cope with the loss of their first choice full-back.
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