Duncan Weir, the Glasgow Warriors fly-half whose last-minute dropped goal against Italy brought Scotland their solitary victory in last year's Six Nations, is to miss the whole of this season's tournament following confirmation that he has to undergo surgery on an arm injury.
Weir took a blow to the arm near the end of Glasgow's 16-6 1872 Cup victory over Edinburgh at Scotstoun two weeks ago. At first, the problem seemed innocuous, but further investigations revealed that the 18-times-capped 23-year-old had suffered serious damage to his bicep and an operation would be required.
Gregor Townsend, the Glasgow coach, admitted the prognosis was uncertain but indicated that the player would not be fit to be involved with Scotland over the next three months.
"I would like to think it won't be the end of his season, but I think it rules out the Six Nations," said Townsend. "With a bicep injury you are talking months rather than weeks."
Weir's injury will leave Scotland exposed in what is generally accepted to be the most influential position on the pitch. Ruaridh Jackson, who moved from Glasgow to Wasps last year, is currently sidelined by a knee problem, so the cover for Finn Russell, the first-choice fly-half during the autumn Test series, is thin. Peter Horne of Glasgow or Greig Tonks of Edinburgh could come into the frame as back-up for Russell.
Stuart Hogg, the Glasgow full-back, is also a concern for the Six Nations after pulling up in training with a hamstring problem earlier this week. Hogg has undergone a scan and Townsend suggested that the severity of the injury will only become clear over the next few days.
However, with Scotland's opening match of the Six Nations, against France in Paris on February 7, now just four weeks away, Townsend did offer one piece of good news to Vern Cotter, the national coach.
Mark Bennett, the centre who also damaged his hamstring in November, has progressed faster than expected and could even be in the frame to make his club return against Montpellier on Sunday week.
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