Jones battles for fitness

Wales fly-half Stephen Jones’ chances of being fit for the RBS Six Nations Championship match against Italy on March 11 will be reassessed next week.

Jones limped off with a dead leg 20 minutes into the defeat to Ireland at the weekend.

National team physio Mark Davies is working regularly with Jones but the player will not be able to do any active work until next week at the earliest.

“Stephen is being treated daily and we will monitor his progress during the course of this week, he is unlikely to take part in any form of rugby or running activity until next week,” said Davies.

“He is still not walking comfortably. He will be given intensive treatment for the next four days or so and will work in the pool.

“If all goes according to plan he will hopefully be fit to resume rugby related activity next week, but it is fair to say it will be a race against time.”

Wing Shane Williams hopes to prove his fitness from a similar injury by playing for Neath-Swansea Ospreys this weekend, while Newport-Gwent Dragons’ Ceri Sweeney (groin) continues his recovery.

“Shane is up and running and Ceri’s progress has stepped up too,” added Davies.

“Shane has resumed light training and hopes to progress this with a view to being included for the coming Ospreys match.

“Ceri doesn’t have a game for the Dragons this weekend but we will be putting him through his paces in the next few days to ascertain how far down the road he is in relation to his fitness for inclusion next week.”

Ospreys lock Ian Evans is also set to return to action this weekend for his region after serving a ban.