Rhys Patchell ‘fine’ for World Cup after concussion scare in Wales’ defeat to Ireland

Rhys Patchell is going to be appropriate for the World Cup despite suffering his third concussion in a year, insists Warren Gatland.
The 26-year-old fly-half left the pitch through the first half of Wales’ 19-10 defeat Ireland on Saturday for a head-injury assessment (HIA) after colliding with CJ Stander in the build-up to Ireland’s first try.
Head coach Gatland confessed on Saturday that Patchell would be assessed by the medics in the upcoming few days, with all the Welsh team flying on Wednesday.
Together with Gareth Anscombe recovering from knee surgery and Dan and Patchell Biggar both that the 2 playmakers to the World Cup wales have two fly-halves in their 31-man group.
Asked if Patchell would be on this trip, Gatland said:”Patchell will be fine for this. He seems okay from the rooms.
“He has simply got to be evaluated in the upcoming few days. We’ll speak with the medics about that and see how he fares over the next couple of days”
Patchell has endured a run of injury luck, having fought two previous concussions along with a torn hamstring throughout the course of the previous 12 months.
He has acquitted himself well in Wales’ warm-up matches, but faces a race against time to be fit for its World Cup opener against Georgia.
Asked if he had some issues with only two fly-halves in his group, Gatland added:”We will see how he comes from another few days.
“He definitely deserves some great luck because he’s gone well. And the thing is that where the concussions happen when players go low and that he went and a knee or a hip struck the tackler.
“So that is something we are going to have to keep watching on with World Rugby.”

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