Leigh Halfpenny: Forced off during defeat to England

The Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed that the British and Irish Lions star will undergo surgery on Friday, and he will miss the remainder of the season as well as the summer tour of South Africa.

Halfpenny's injury also means he has played his last game for Cardiff Blues having announced earlier this year that he would be joining big-spending France giants Toulon in the summer.

The 25-year-old suffered the injury when making a superb tackle on Luther Burrell as he denied the powerful England wing his second try of the game at Twickenham.

The impact caused a dislocation of his right shoulder, and he will now have a lengthy period of rehabilitation before joining Toulon for pre-season training.

Williams back

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has recalled Scarlets full-back Liam Williams for Saturday's Six Nations finale against Scotland at the Millennium Stadium.

Williams now appears to be first-choice No 15 for the two Tests against the Springboks in Durban on June 14 and Nelspruit seven days later.

The WRU also revealed that young scrum-half Rhys Webb has been released from the Six Nations squad to face Scotland on Saturday after he sustained an ankle injury against England.

He will now return to the Ospreys for treatment, but the severity of the problem is not yet known.

A statement on the WRU website read: "Wales and Cardiff Blues full-back Leigh Halfpenny, who dislocated his right shoulder against England on Sunday, will undergo surgery Friday.

"He is expected to be out for up to four months.

"Ospreys scrum half Rhys Webb has been released from the National Squad following his ankle injury. He will continue to be assessed by the Ospreys medical team."