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Wales lose Lion Navidi for November Tests and Six Nations - report
By Sam Smith
Wales flanker Josh Navidi is set to miss both the 2021 Autumn Test Series and the 2022 Guinness Six Nations after suffering an injury playing for Cardiff in the URC.
The Rugby Paper report that the 30-year-old sustained a shoulder injury against the Bulls that is severe enough to rule the back row out for six months. Navidi underwent surgery on the injury and according to the article Wayne Picac's Wales have been informed by Cardiff that the all-action back row will take no part in the November Tests and will likely miss the entirety of the Six Nations.
Navidi had started just four of Wales’ 17 Test matches under head coach Pivac.
Concussion sidelined Navidi for the entire Autumn Nations Cup campaign in 2020 and after returning to Test rugby off the bench against Ireland in February, a neck problem then ruled him out of Wales’ Guinness Six Nations trip to Scotland.
Now Navidi - who became a British & Irish Lion over the summer - is facing another long spell on the sidelines.
It's a bitter blow for Wales, who already face the prospect of the All Blacks with many of their front-liners unavailable. According to WalesOnline, Wayne Pivac’s side could be without 21 frontline players, including those who ply their club trade in other countries such as England.
Sadly, it now looks like they can add Navidi to that list.
The versatile back-row has established himself as a firm favourite during his 12 seasons to date at Wales’ Capital Region, amassing over 170 appearances. He has been crowned Cardiff Blues Player of the Season on several occasions and has now transferred his imperious regional form to the international stage.
Following a four-year hiatus between his first and second caps, Navidi burst back into the Test arena in 2017 and has now racked up 28 appearances to date.
Navidi was among the signatories on an open letter to World Rugby from new lobby group Progressive Rugby earlier this year, which was pushing for an introduction of measures to make rugby safer and tackling a link between the game and head injuries.
additional reporting by PA
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