Wales lose Alun Wyn Jones for Six Nations due to elbow fracture

Wales suffered a second blow in less than 24 hours when the second-row Alun Wyn Jones was ruled out of the rest of the Six Nations today. The Lion fractured a bone in his elbow during the weekend victory over Scotland and requires surgery. He will be out of action for between six and 12 weeks and is expected to have an operation tomorrow. He played on after sustaining the injury to his left elbow, which was heavily bandaged, but an X-ray this week revealed a fracture and he faces missing not just the rest of the championship but the Ospreys' Heineken Cup quarter-final against Biarritz in San Sebastian in April. Jones's misfortune follows the ­decision of the Wales management on Monday to expel the back-row Andy Powell from the squad after he was charged with drink‑driving following an alleged incident with a golf buggy hours after the victory over Scotland. It has been an eventful Six Nations for Jones. He was sent to the sin-bin at the end of the first half against England at Twickenham on the opening day for tripping Dylan Hartley. The men in red conceded 17 points in his absence and the Wales coach, Warren Gatland, threatened to drop the second-row for his "act of stupidity". The veteran Ian Gough is likely to be recalled with the other berth being filled by Luke Charteris, who was dropped after Twicken­ham, or Bradley Davies. Wales will be without another summer Lion against France in Cardiff next week, the prop Gethin Jenkins, who aggravated a calf strain after coming on as a replacement against Scotland, while the hooker Matthew Rees has yet to play in the championship because of a calf strain.