Wales say prop Tomas Francis available to face France after head injury

Wales assistant coach Gethin Jenkins says that prop Tomas Francis is available for selection to face Guinness Six Nations opponents France on Friday.

Ospreys forward Francis suffered a head injury midway through the first half of Wales’ Six Nations loss to England nine days ago.

And Professor John Fairclough, a leading surgeon who has previously worked with the Welsh Rugby Union, believes it would be “a grave mistake” if Wales select Francis against France.

Television footage showed Francis staggering following a clash of heads with team-mate Owen Watkin, and he also appeared to lean on the post pads for support.

The 29-year-old was subsequently removed from the pitch for a head injury assessment that he passed, before returning and playing until the 56th minute.

Player welfare lobby group Progressive Rugby wrote an open letter to World Rugby, the WRU and the Six Nations last week expressing its concern over an episode currently being reviewed by Six Nations Rugby.

Progressive Rugby says that Francis’ situation necessitated an immediate and permanent removal from the pitch, with no HIA required.

Jenkins said that Francis, plus Watkin and wing Josh Adams, who also suffered head knocks at Twickenham, are available for Les Bleus’ Cardiff visit.

“I don’t think the review has been finished yet. We will wait to see what comes of that,” Jenkins said.

“The people in charge and the medical people will have gone through all that, and I am sure the review will see what comes of it.

“The HIA process has been in place for a long time now, and players and staff, we all abide by it. We’ve got to back what has happened there, and if anything else comes out of it, it comes out of it.

The player has passed all the protocols- Wales