Elbow surgery shouldn’t rule Josh Navidi out of Wales World Cup prep, says Mulvihill

Influential Wales flanker Josh Navidi is on course to be fit for the World Cup preparation camps, according to Cardiff Blues head coach John Mulvihill.

The back-row forward underwent elbow surgery to treat an injury he sustained playing for the Blues against the Scarlets a week after the Six Nations celebrations.

And despite being expected to miss between ‘two to three months’ the 28-year-old should not pose an injury concern to Warren Gatland according to the Blues boss.

“He’s had surgery and he’ll be right come World Cup camps,” said Mulvihill.

“He can still run and do everything else so he’ll be refreshed, which will be really good for him coming into those camps.”

The route to Japan starts with camp in the Swiss Alps for Gatland’s side, before a London-Cardiff double-header against England in August.

Wales then similarly play Ireland twice ahead of jetting off to Japan where they open their campaign against Georgia on 23 September.

Navidi’s injury does, however, mean he will not play rugby for the rest of the PRO14 season, with the fourth-place Blues tied on points with Connacht above them for the final play-off spot in Conference A.