Welsh stars falling like flies

Welsh tighthead prop Adam Jones has joined centre Jamie Roberts in the Christmas casualty list to give Wales coach Warren Gatland a major headache going into the new year.

Worryingly the British and Irish Lions prop was forced to leave the field with a neck injury during the Ospreys 22-14 Boxing Day defeat to rivals the Scarlets.

The injury-plagued Welshman missed the last two Test matches of 2011 with a calf injury and had only recently returned to action for the Ospreys.

Jones' injury adds to Wales' woes, with star centre Jamie Roberts suffering suspected knee ligament damage during the Cardiff Blues victory over the Dragons on Friday.

Both players will have their injuries further assessed this week to determine how long the are expected to be sidelined.

"Adam has tweaked something in his back or his neck. In 24 hours we'll know the extent of that," Ospreys director of rugby Scott Johnson told the Western Mail.

'It's one of those things you are not sure about. It might be just a twinge, it may not be. You can't tell with those injuries.

"We've gone through the Gray's Anatomy and we haven't come across a diagnosis."

Gatland will be holding thumbs for a speedy return from the pair, with first choice lock pairing of Alun Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris already expected to miss the start of the Six Nations.