Rugby Union: Moon set for fast recovery

RUPERT MOON, the Llanelli scrum-half pushing Robert Jones hard for his place in the Wales team for the Five Nations Championship, is determined that the dislocated shoulder he suffered in a match on Monday will not prevent him joining the national squad on their training trip to Lanzarote next week.

Moon, the Wales B scrum-half and captain, could be out of action for up to three weeks after damaging his shoulder in the East Wales v West Wales match in Cardiff. He suffered a slipped clavicle and, although X-rays have revealed there is nothing broken, he was in considerable pain last night.

But the 24-year-old, who has had a spectacularly successful season, culminating in leading his club to victory over the world champions, Australia, is still hoping to be fit enough to travel with the Welsh squad that leaves for the week's warm weather training on 5 January.

'I have full use of the shoulder in terms of being able to move the joint as usual but I cannot put any downward pressure on it at the moment,' he said.

'Obviously, I will not be able to play in Llanelli's Heineken League First Division match at Bridgend on Saturday but I have certainly not ruled out making the trip to Lanzarote.'

Carl Hogg has withdrawn from Saturday's Scotland trial at Murrayfield after injuring an ankle in the A international against Ireland. Dave McIvor comes into the junior Reds side, with Dale McIntosh moving up to the Blues back row.