[ad_1]
Scotland have lost key backs Darcy Graham and Sione Tuipulotu for the rest of the Six Nations through injury.
Edinburgh wing Darcy Graham requires groin surgery and is likely to miss the rest of the season.
Glasgow Warriors centre Tuipulotu will not require an operation on the knee injury picked up against England but could be out for up to three months.
Graham had hoped to return from a quadricep injury in time for that game last weekend.
But his latest setback rules the 26-year-old, who is joint-third on Scotland’s all-time try-scoring list with 24 from 39 Tests, out of the championship for the second year running.
“We really feel for Darcy because he is a player that puts his heart and soul into rugby,” Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt, who estimates a “three-to-four month” absence for the back, said.
“He loves playing for this club, while he is a proud Scotsman who takes great pride in representing his country.
“We’ve got every confidence Darcy will work his way back from next week’s surgery with the same drive and determination with which he trains and plays.”
Graham scored five tries at the World Cup but picked up a hip injury in the final pool game against Ireland on 7 October.
He made his Edinburgh comeback in December but managed just four appearances before the quadricep problem.
“There is an opportunity now for Darcy to use this time to get better and, if need be, take the rest of this season plus the pre-season to build himself up in to top form,” Everitt said.
“We all know that he is world class when he is on top of his game, so it is vitally important for him as an individual that we look after his wellbeing other than the physical side of his performance.”
Meanwhile, Glasgow head coach Franco Smith said Australia-born Tuipulotu’s injury “is not as bad as first feared” and hopes he will be back quicker than estimated.
“He’s going to be out 10-12 weeks, maybe even quicker, but we are conservative with it,” he added. “No operation is needed, which is important.”
