Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb could miss entire season

Wales and Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb, already ruled out of contention for this year’s World Cup faces an uphill fight to play again at all this season.

Webb suffered a serious foot injury during Wales' final World Cup warm-up game against Italy in Cardiff 19 days ago.

The match was particularly harrowing for Wales, who, as well as losing their expected starting scrum-half, also lost full-back and primary goal-kicker Leigh Halfpenny for the entirety of the World Cup due to a knee ligaments injury.

Webb’s regional team back in Wales, the Ospreys, have now confirmed that the 26-year-old faces a "six to eight-month" period out of action.

Webb is therefore also set to miss the entire RBS 6 Nations campaign next year and could conceivably be a doubt for Wales' 2016 summer tour of New Zealand with limited time available to get himself back to match fitness and top form before the team fly out in late May.

In their statement, the Ospreys said: " Rhys Webb has been ruled out of action until well into 2016 after undergoing surgery on his foot.

"The scrum-half sustained what has been described as a significant injury during Wales' final Rugby World Cup warm-up match earlier this month and is now back with the Ospreys for his recovery and rehabilitation."

Ospreys medical performance manager Chris Towers added: " Rhys sustained a significant foot ligament injury that required surgical stabilisation.

"He has had the surgery and will be non-weight bearing for six weeks and will then wear a protective boot for a further four to six weeks.

"Only after that will we be in a position to progress his rehab and, at this stage, Rhys is looking at a six to eight-month period out of action, a timescale that reflects the severity of his injury."

26 year-old Webb, capped 16 times overall for his country, scored five tries in eight Tests last season, including three during the Six Nations to help cement his place as an integral part of Wales head coach Warren Gatland's World Cup plans.

Webb has subsequently been replaced in the Welsh World Cup squad by 94 times-capped Mike Phillips.