LEIGH HALFPENNY WILL miss the rest of this season, coach Warren Gatland said Sunday, after dislocating his shoulder during Wales’ 29-18 Six Nations loss to England at Twickenham.
Full-back Halfpenny, who scored all of Wales’ points on Sunday with six penalties, injured his right shoulder with a try-saving tackle on England centre Luther Burrell.
“Leigh has dislocated his shoulder and will be out for the rest of the Championship, that’s his season over, which is disappointing for him,” said Gatland.
Burrell was on the brink of scoring his second try of the match when Halfpenny, acknowledged as one of the world’s leading full-backs, forced him to put a foot in touch as he placed the ball behind the Welsh line.
Liam Williams, who replaced Halfpenny for the final few minutes at Twickenham, is now in line to start in the No 15 jersey when Wales conclude their Six Nations against Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Halfpenny, player of the 2013 Six Nations and man of the series during the British and Irish Lions series win in Australia last year, is due to join French giants Toulon, the reigning European champions, at the end of the season on a salary worth a reported €480,000 euros a year.
Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb limped off against England with what seemed to be an ankle injury but there was no immediate update from the Welsh management on his fitness. Gatland is due to announce his team to play Scotland on Tuesday.
Wales’ defeat by England ended their hopes of becoming the first side to win three successive outright Championship titles.
