Rugby: Howley faces injury woe

Rob Howley looks certain to miss Cardiff’s remaining six Welsh-Scottish League games this season after suffering a potentially serious knee injury.

The former Wales captain was carried off during Cardiff’s 27-16 league success against Caerphilly last night.

The initial prognosis is damaged knee ligaments, although the full extent of Howley’s injury will not be known until he has a scan later today.

But it looks as if he will be sidelined for at least a month, ruling him out of appointments with Edinburgh, Newport, Glasgow, Swansea, Bridgend and Llanelli.

Cardiff, who are still in the Welsh-Scottish League title race, lost Howley during injury time following a low-key tussle watched by just 3,000 spectators.

The Lions scrum-half announced his retirement from international rugby earlier this month after winning a 59th cap against Lloyds TSB Six Nations rivals Scotland.

And he was an integral part of Cardiff’s title bid, which gathered momentum last night through championship favourites Newport losing 36-20 at home to Neath.

But while Howley now faces a frustrating lay-off, Cardiff can at least call upon his Lions colleague Neil Jenkins, who made a successful comeback last night.

It was fly-half Jenkins’ first appearance for nine months after being laid low by serious knee problems.