Rugby Union: Nicol escapes serious injury

Bill Leith
Sunday 05 December 1993 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

ANDY NICOL, the Scottish scrum-half, is now expected to be fit to play in a week despite giving rise to a major injury scare during the North and Midlands' eventual defeat by a single point against Connaught at Dunfermline, writes Bill Leith.

The match - one of four which marked the start of a new rivalry between the Scottish districts and the Irish provinces - saw Nicol taken away to hospital. Happily, the injury turned out to be nothing more serious than a neck compression.

Though Nicol will wear a support brace to protect his neck for the next few days, the prognosis is all the more welcome following the news that his fellow Scot, Gary Armstrong, sustained a broken rib while playing scrum-half for the Barbarians in Cardiff.

The experiment between the Scots and the Irish, set up to raise domestic standards in both countries, should have its spectator appeal tested this weekend.

Edinburgh, away winners over Leinster, have an attractive home encounter with an Ulster side who added to the South of Scotland's current woes.

Beaten 84-5 by the All Blacks, the South went down 44-26 in Belfast on Saturday. This means the South have conceded 128 points, including 17 tries, in their last two matches.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in