Surgery Puts Phillips Career on Hold Until October

Mike Phillips, who set Wales on the grand-slam path with the winning try against England at Twickenham in their first Six Nations game, is out until October after damaging knee ligaments in the Ospreys' EDF Energy Cup semi-final win over Saracens at the Millennium Stadium.

The scrum-half will now miss the final against Leicester, the rest of the region's Heineken Cup campaign and Wales' tour to South Africa after this week having surgery to repair two torn ligaments. This year Phillips had finally succeeded in wresting the Wales No9 jersey from Dwayne Peel and he hopes to return in time for November's friendly internationals against the three major southern hemisphere unions.

"It is a big blow for Mike and the Ospreys," said the Wales backs coach, Rob Howley, a former international scrum-half. "He was one of the outstanding players of the Six Nations. Rugby can be a cruel sport, hitting you at a time when things are going well, and to have such a devastating injury will ask questions of Mike's character. But I am sure he will bounce back and get back to his best. We are fortunate in having two other quality players in the position in the squad, Dwayne Peel and Gareth Cooper."

Lewis Moody, who lasted only 15 minutes against Wales before going off with an achilles tendon injury, also had an operation this week to cure the problem and will miss England's summer tour to New Zealand. The flanker, who has not played since the February 2 defeat by the eventual champions, expects to return by the beginning of August. "I am devastated," he said. "I will miss a tour and the end of the season with Leicester, which includes a final. Every game you miss is one that you will never get back."

The Welsh Rugby Union is confident that its defence coach, Shaun Edwards, will not be tempted away if England come calling after Twickenham complete the review of the national management set-up next month. Edwards has only a verbal agreement to remain with Wales on a part-time basis until 2010 but the WRU's chief executive, Roger Lewis, said talks about a written extension were being held.

"Shaun has been honest from the start and told us that his ambition was one day to coach England," said Lewis. "We would not get in the way of anyone's burning ambition, but it makes perfect sense for Shaun, at this particular time, to continue working with us.

"We met before the France game earlier this month and it was Shaun who said he wanted to stay beyond the agreement we had in place. It is complicated legally, because we have an arrangement with Shaun and Wasps, so it has taken time to sort out the detail. It is with the lawyers at the moment. I have spoken to Shaun at length today and we want to get this resolved as quickly as possible."