ercrugby.com Heineken Cup European Challenge Cup
Sponsors Heineken logo's and link to their involvement in Rugby FedEx logo and link to their website EDF logo and link to their website Amlin logo and link to their website Adidas logo and link to their website
English Francais Italiano
Homepage
ERC News
European Statistics
ercrugby.com ezine
ERC Elite Awards
ERC Video & Audio
ERC European Rankings
ERC Careers
The Road to Europe
Peter Jackson's Europe
ERC15
Heineken Cup Home
News
Fixtures and Results
Pools
Teams
Team Map
Broadcast
Final Ambassadors
History
Action Gallery
Partners
European Challenge Cup
News
Fixtures and Results
Pools
Teams
Team Map
Broadcast
History
Action Gallery
Fans Poll
Which team has impressed you during the Pool stages?
ASM Clermont
Ospreys
Munster
Northampton
Toulouse
Leinster
Stade Français
Biarritz
Previous Poll Results

Which team will host a Heineken Cup quarter-final?
Munster(37%)
Toulouse(22%)
Leinster(15%)
Biarritz(17%)
Ospreys(4%)
Leicester Tigers(2%)
Stade Français Paris(3%)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tickets
Fanzone
About ERC
Search
Video Audio MatchDayLive! RSS
Ben Blair
Ben Blair prepares to kick for goal
© Getty Images
Blair out of remaining Pool stage games
2 January 2009, 10:43 am
Ben Blair will play no part in the remaining Heineken Cup Pool matches after he suffered a broken hand in a Magners League defeat to the Ospreys on New Years Day.
Cardiff Blues have confirmed Blair has a very small fracture in a bone in his right hand, which has been put in a cast to protect it.

Blair will see a hand specialist on Monday and it is thought that the injury could keep him out of action for up to four weeks.

The New Zealand international fractured the 4th metacarpal bone in the match against the Ospreys on New Year's Eve and his hand is now healing in a splint. 

This means the the goal kicking Kiwi will miss the crucial match with Gloucester at the end of the month.

The Blues may have a 100 per cent record in Pool 6, but with Gloucester also performing well, the Kingsholm tussle is likely to be a Pool decider, and the Blues know only too well the cost of coming second in the group stage.

Failure to progress in first place last season meant a trip to Toulouse in the quarter-finals of Europe toughest club competition. The result went the way of the three-times champions and now, Blues boss Dai Young must wait on medical results to see if his goal-kicking full back can help his side into the final eight.

Blair walked off midway through the first half with an ice bag on his hand during his side’s 16-12 defeat to their regional neighbours.

“Ben has gone for an X-ray and it is suspected he has broken his hand which is a massive blow for us,” said David Young, the Blues coach.

Meanwhile, Martyn Williams, the Wales and Lions flanker, was another to leave the field clutching his shoulder, but he is expected to be fit.

“Martyn has struggled throughout the Autumn Test series with a shoulder injury,” said Young.

“We rested him for two weeks and he just took another bang on it. There is nothing which needs an operation and nothing to be worried about there.”
Fans forum E-mail this page Print this page Print this page
Bookmarks
ADD TO ASKAskShare this page
ADD TO DEL.ICIO.USDel.icio.usShare this page
ADD TO DIGGDiggShare this page
ADD TO FACEBOOKFacebookShare this page
ADD TO FURLFurlShare this page
ADD TO GOOGLEGoogleShare this page
ADD TO MAGNOLIAMagnoliaShare this page
ADD TO NETSCAPENetscapeShare this page
ADD TO NEWSVINENewsvineShare this page
ADD TO RAWSUGARRawsugarShare this page
ADD TO REDDITRedditShare this page
ADD TO SPURLSpurlShare this page
ADD TO SQUIDOOSquidooShare this page
ADD TO STUMBLEUPONStumbleUponShare this page
ADD TO TAGTOOGATagtoogaShare this page
ADD TO TECHNORATI FAVORITESTechnoratiShare this page
ADD TO YAHOO MYWEBYahooShare this page
ADD TO WINDOWS LIVEWindows LiveShare this page
Latest ERC news
Dallaglio Cycle Slam: Part 2
Italian teams to play in Magners League
Attoub appeal thrown out
David Attoub appeal decision adjourned
David Attoub appeal hearing
Latest Heineken Cup news
Sean Holley: We are looking forward to play Biarritz
Philipps and Yachvili to return in the Heineken Cup actions
Dallaglio Cycle Slam: Part 2
Italian teams to play in Magners League
Moody to go to Bath
Latest Amlin Challenge Cup news
Dai Young: It's hard to play rugby in Newcastle
Tom Shanklin: Cardiff has another chance to win a silverware
Dallaglio Cycle Slam: Part 2
Italian teams to play in Magners League
Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final rehearsal
Latest Video and Audio News
Dai Young: It's hard to play rugby in Newcastle
Tom Shanklin: Cardiff has another chance to win a silverware
Sean Holley: We are looking forward to play Biarritz
Dallaglio Cycle Slam: From Twickenahm to the Millennium Stadium
Content © ERC, Statistical data © Westgate Legal Notice delivered by Sotic powered by RedDot Web Content Management
Heineken Cup Final - London 07
Did You Know?
Last season there were 485 tries scored in 67 Challenge Cup matches.
Heineken Cup Forum
Latest 3 forum threads:
ERC eZine
Register now to receive the very latest club rugby news from around Europe.

Challenge Cup Countdown


Challenge Cup Forum
Latest 3 forum threads: