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England suffer the Moody blues

Thursday 08th February 2007

Lewis Moody: Out of Six Nations

England flanker Lewis Moody has been dealt a harsh blow to his Six Nations campaign, the Leicester Tigers star has been ruled out for the rest of the Championship after undergoing surgery on his shoulder on Wedneday.

Moody is "devastated" to be sitting out of the Six Nations through injury.

The England star underwent surgery on his left shoulder on Wednesday night at a private London hospital.

Moody tore a muscle playing for Leicester against Munster in the Heineken Cup last month and then sustained further damage training last week.

This ruled him out of the England squad as Brian Ashton's men, inspired by a rejuvenated Johnny Wilkinson, beat Scotland 42-20 at Twickenham on Saturday.

With five tries in his last six outings for Leicester, Moody's latest setback comes just as he was hitting form.

Specialists carried out an arthroscopy procedure last night and have inserted two pins in the shoulder muscle to tighten it.

Recovering from the operation will keep Moody sidelined for at least the next six weeks according to medics.

"I'm devastated to miss the rest of the Six Nations because I have been playing really well for Leicester," Moody said as he left hospital.

"I felt like I was getting back to the top of my game.

"I'm now aiming to be back for the EDF Energy Cup semi-final against Sale on March 24."