Phil Dollman’s Wales tour-ending knee injury described as ‘significant’
Scarlets back Rhys Patchell will take Dollman’s place in the squad, with Rhodri Jones taking over from his Scarlets colleague Samson Lee.
Wales full-back Phil Dollman’s tour-ending knee injury has been described as “significant” following his withdrawal from the squad.
Exeter’s Dollman and Scarlets prop Samson Lee have both been ruled out of Wales’ Tests against Tonga and Samoa later this month.
Uncapped Dollman was hurt during the Chiefs’ Aviva Premiership final victory over Wasps at Twickenham nine days ago.
Lee, meanwhile, also has a knee problem, and he will not travel with the Wales squad later this week ahead of appointments with Tonga in Auckland on June 16 and Samoa in Apia the following week.
Scarlets back Rhys Patchell will take 32-year-old Dollman’s place in the squad, with Rhodri Jones deputising for his Scarlets colleague Lee.
Dollman, 32, had been tipped to make his Test debut on tour, but that opportunity has now eluded him.
“The last I heard on Phil was that he was awaiting consultation over a significant injury to his knee,” Wales head coach Robin McBryde said. “I’m not sure what the result of that consultation was.
“It’s not ideal for any of the players, especially for Phil and the time that it occurred and the manner that it happened.
“It was a very bitter-sweet day for Phil, having spoken to him on the phone, going from the heights of winning and scoring a try to then picking up this injury. It’s tough.
“Samson’s knee unfortunately flared up in the Scarlets’ game (PRO12 final) with Munster, and it hasn’t settled down enough for us to take him to the next level of training.”
Wales are without 11 of their front-line players for the Tests – stars like Sam Warburton, George North, Liam Williams and Alun Wyn Jones – due to the British and Irish Lions’ New Zealand tour.
