London – Wales winger George North sustained “no significant or serious” damage to his neck after taking a blow to his head in club action, Scarlets announced Saturday.
North was stretchered off during his club's 47-17 defeat against Ulster in the Celtic League on Friday after appearing to take the blow in an accidental collision.
The Scarlets said Saturday that North had flown home with his teammates after being “taken to hospital after the incident where, as a precaution, his neck was both x-rayed and scanned”.
“The results from the two scans showed that there was no significant or serious damage to his neck.
“He will be assessed further by the Scarlets medical team on Monday. It is too early to assess the full extent of the injury, or indeed, the recovery period at this stage.”
The potential loss of North gives Grand Slam champions Wales a major worry ahead of their Six Nations campaign, which kicks off against Ireland in Cardiff on February 2.
The 20-year-old has scored 11 Wales tries in 26 appearances, including two on his 2010 debut against South Africa and it would be a blow to his country if he were to sit out any of the Six Nations.
Wales' injury list is already a long one and includes fly-halves Rhys Priestland and James Hook, locks Ian Evans, Alun Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris, hookers Ken Owens and Huw Bennett and prop Aaron Jarvis. – Sapa-AFP