Official RBS 6 Nations Rugby : Burns ruled out of RBS 6 Nations with neck injury

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Wales coach Warren Gatland will be without hooker Lloyd Burns for the RBS 6 Nations campaign

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Burns ruled out of RBS 6 Nations with neck injury

13 January 2012, 11:18 am

By Sportsbeat

Wales coach Warren Gatland's injury woes continued after it was announced hooker Lloyd Burns will miss the RBS 6 Nations campaign with a neck injury.

The Dragons forward, who made four appearances at last year’s World Cup, joins team-mate Luke Charteris on the sidelines while Alun-Wyn Jones faces a race against time to be fit for the opener against Ireland on February 5.

Burns, 27, was absent from the Dragons side that overcame Ospreys last weekend and has subsequently been told by club medics to take a three-month sabbatical from rugby.

Dragons rugby director Robert Beale said: "Lloyd has been advised to withdraw from rugby for at least three months in order to fully rehab his neck.

"We are obviously disappointed for Lloyd, particularly with the Six Nations coming up, but Lloyd's safety and welfare has to be paramount."

Gatland, who will now choose between Matthew Rees and Huw Bennett for the starting berth at hooker, will be hoping to replicate the 22-10 victory over the Irish in October that saw Wales progress to their first World Cup semi-final since 1987.