Leigh Halfpenny’s return to rugby looks entirely uncertain again after the decision to abandon any idea of a Scarlets comeback this weekend.
The Wales full-back had been released back to Scarlets this week, but has not been considered for Saturday’s Guinness Pro14 trip to Benetton.
Halfpenny has returned to full training but has not tasted match action since November owing to concussion issues.
Wales host England in Cardiff on February 23rd, with Halfpenny now appearing to be highly unlikely to feature in the Six Nations showdown.
Whether he could make the remaining matches in the tournament – away to Scotland and home to Ireland – remains a matter of speculation.
Wales coach Warren Gatland had said he was hoping Halfpenny would be fit for the “later stages” of the competition when he announced his squad for the tournament, but no specific fixtures or return date was outlined.
“Leigh Halfpenny was not considered for the Scarlets fixture against Benetton Rugby this weekend,” read a Welsh Rugby Union statement.
“Although Leigh has returned to full training, it was collectively decided that he should continue training with the hope he will be available for selection in the imminent future.”
Halfpenny would boost head coach Warren Gatland’s options significantly should he be passed fit to face Eddie Jones’ England.
But Wales will not take any risks with the head injury that has kept Halfpenny sidelined since the November 10th Test clash with South Africa.
Halfpenny’s Wales and Scarlets squad teammates Rhys Patchell and Steff Evans were also released from the national squad and will both feature for the region.
Evans starts on the left wing, while Patchell has been named among the replacements.
Benetton Treviso are riding high in second place in Conference B, with the Scarlets back in fourth and unable to risk falling further behind if they are to make the end of season play-offs.
Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac said: “It’s exciting. We would much rather be where we were this time last year, but we’re not and that’s reality.
“We’ve got four teams going hard for realistically two slots and I think there’s only two points separating those four teams.
“Every game now is a vital one and we have to fight for every point. Whether that’s an extra try to get five, or to come within seven and get one. Every point is going to be vital when we wash up at the end of the season.”
