Ian Evans
Ian Evans - out for the rest of the season.
Ian Evans injury blow for Ospreys
29 December 2006, 3:14 pm
By Jonathan McConnell
Ian Evans has been diagnosed as having a chronically unstable shoulder and he ill require a shoulder reconstruction which will take place in the first week of January.
He dislocated his shoulder whilst scoring a try against the Blues and he will now face five to six months of rehabilitation
Commenting on the injury, Lyn Jones said:  "This is a massive blow for Ian, the Ospreys and for Wales. Six months is a long lay-off, but hopefully it will not jeopardise his position in the Rugby World Cup. This will in time be seen as a small blip in Ian's career. He has made phenomenal progress over the last eighteen months and I am sure he will come back stronger than ever."

Meanwhile Jones has also named his squad for the New Year's Eve game against the Dragons at the Liberty Stadium.
Backs (11):
Lee Byrne Nikki Walker Jonathan Vaughton Richard Mustoe Andrew Bishop Tal Selley James Hook Shaun Connor Gavin Henson Martin Roberts Jason Spice
Forwards (13):
Ryan Jones Steve Tandy Richard Pugh Filo Tiatia Alun Wyn Jones Andy Lloyd Brent Cockbain Lyndon Bateman Paul James (Capt) Barry Williams Ed Shervington Andrew Millward Cai Griffiths

The team will be confirmed tomorrow on Saturday.

"Things went exceptionally well against the Scarlets but we have not been carried away with that success and the Dragons will give us another stern challenge," added Jones. "We will need to show the same level of assertiveness on Sunday as the Dragons have shown themselves to be a force, particularly in their recent wholehearted performance against the Blues. They have a combative pack of forwards and they will always pose a challenge up front as they showed when they beat us in Gwent last year."

"At this time of year you have to manage both mental and physical fatigue. Weare coming to the end of three physical games in a row and it is taking its toll on our squad. The fatigue showed during the last ten minutes against the Scarlets when the physicality of the Blues fixture seemed to catch up with us. Having said that, we have a strong squad and I am sure that the Liberty Stadium crowd will help to pull us through. We enjoyed superb, vocal support in front of a full house against the Scarlets and I am sure Sunday's crowd will again help to give us an edge."

All Pictures: ©  http://www.inpho.ie/, Huw Evans Agency,  Graham Stuart
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