Matawalu and Hislop ruled out for start of campaign

EDINBURGH and Glasgow have been dealt blows with key young players ruled out for the start of the season by broken bones.

The Warriors will be without Fijian scrum-half Niko Matawalu after he broke a bone in his right foot in training, which has been operated on and is expected to at least keep him out for a month. The news is more bleak for one of Edinburgh’s most promising young forwards, prop Robin Hislop, who suffered a broken leg in training.

Edinburgh have stated that he will not require an operation but will still be unavailable for selection for between four to six months.

Matawalu joins a host of players in the Warriors treatment room. But other than Peter Horne, who is out for nine months, and Ryan Wilson, estimated to be out for three, both injured in June playing for Scotland against South Africa, most are expected to return in the opening matches of the new season.

Chris Cusiter is one desperate for a return to action after spending all of last season in a permanent state of recovery from injury. Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend is hopeful he will be back to contest the scrum-half spot with Henry Pyrgos and under-20 cap Ali Price.