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

Rhys Patchell will be fit despite suffering his third concussion in a year, insists Warren Gatland.
The 26-year-old fly-half abandoned the pitch throughout the first half of Wales’ 19-10 defeat in Ireland on Saturday for a head-injury assessment (HIA) after colliding with CJ Stander in the build-up into Ireland’s first try.
Head coach Gatland confessed on Saturday day that Patchell would be evaluated from the medics within the upcoming few days, together with the tribe flying on Wednesday to Japan.
Wales have just two fly-halves within their 31-man group, with Gareth Anscombe recovering from knee surgery and Dan and Patchell Biggar the 2 playmakers to the World Cup.
Asked if Patchell will be on that flight, Gatland said:”Patchell will be fine for this. He seems okay in the changing rooms now.
“He’s only got to be evaluated in the next few days. We’ll speak with the medics about this and find out how he fares over the next few days”
Patchell has endured a wretched run of harm fortune, having fought a hamstring along with two concussions off throughout the course of the last 12 months.
He’s acquitted himself nicely 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 two fly-halves in his squad, Gatland included:”We will see how he comes from another few days.
“He certainly deserves some good luck because he’s gone well. And the thing is that’s when players move low often where the concussions happen and he went low and the tackler gets hit by a knee or a hip.
“So that’s something we are going to have to keep seeing with World Rugby.”

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