Leigh Halfpenny to miss start of Six Nations due to concussion symptoms

Wales will have to do without Leigh Halfpenny for the start of the Guinness Six Nations.

The full-back is suffering from concussion symptoms. The full-back sustained the issue after a tackle by Samu Kerevi during a 9-6 victory over Australia on November 10, a challenge which Warren Gatland criticised in the aftermath.

Wales play the Six Nations opener on February 1st, in a Friday night match, but Halfpenny won’t be available for that according to his Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac.

“Leigh has seen the specialist and won’t be used for the next three to five weeks,” Pivac said.

“He’ll continue training and doing what he’s been doing, and then he will be reassessed. It will be somewhere between three to five weeks, but these things take time. That’s the time frame we’re looking at. Leigh won’t play before that time, that will be the earliest.

“We will pass on the medical information to the Welsh Rugby Union.

“That will then be (Wales coach) Warren’s (Gatland) call as to what he does because the tournament runs for longer than that.

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Watch: RugbyPass series – Beyond 80 – takes an unflinching look at the reality of concussion in rugby.

“He’s running, he’s training, and from time to time I think he’s been having bouts of (headaches).

“When the medical team tell us he is ready to go then that will be a boost for the squad.”

“He’s as frustrated as anybody is, but his health and wellbeing comes first. Lots of players have come back from it (concussion) before.

“Justin Tipuric and Aaron Shingler have had spells out and both those players have returned to the top of their game at some point.

“There’s no reason why that won’t happen with Leigh.

The Scarlets have struggled in Halfpenny’s absence, they’re out of the Heineken Champions Cup having lost all four matches. They face Leicester Tigers with third spot in Pool 4 the only realistic target.