Rugby - Six Nations:Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel hopes to return to training in "a couple of weeks" after a scan revealed his groin injury is not as bad as first feared.
The Sale number nine suffered the injury in Saturday’s Heineken Cup defeat against Cardiff Blues and he will miss Wales’ Six Nations opener against England at Twickenham on February 6th.
There were fears the 72-times capped 28-year-old would be ruled out for the entire Six Nations but he could now potentially face Scotland in Cardiff a week after the Twickenham clash, although the Millennium Stadium meeting with France on February 26th may prove a more likely date for his return.
Peel said: “The specialist scanned the injury and it’s a groin strain. Hopefully I should be back in full training in a couple of weeks.”
Wales head coach Warren Gatland is also without Peel’s fellow British and Irish Lion Mike Phillips, who has an ankle injury.
Scarlets half-back Martin Roberts is thought to be the favourite to earn the starting berth against Martin Johnson’s side, although in-form Cardiff Blues man Richie Rees is likely to push him close.
The experienced Gareth Cooper is Gatland’s other scrum-half option.