Beard’s injury will come as a huge blow to Toby Booth’s men who face a challenging battle in Dublin this weekend where they face second-place Leinster as the Ospreys look to reignite their play-off hopes.
The news will also bring frustration to Wales boss Warren Gatland ahead of tests with South Africa on 22 June at Twickenham before a two-test tour in Australia in July in Sydney and Melbourne.
Head-coach Booth revealed in his pre-match press conference that Beard’s lay-off is a result of coming down heavy on his ankle from a line-out in the region’s 61–24 defeat against the Bulls last time out.
Whilst Beard starts his spell on the treatment table, Booth provided better news that Wales’ World Cup co-captain Jac Morgan will be available after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
A knee injury has been keeping the flanker out since December and his presence on the pitch will be a timely boost in Booth’s squad depth for the final run-in.
“Adam Beard is not available,” said Booth. He fell out of the line-out and that is quite a distance for him and hurt his ankle.
“I can’t see him playing again [this season] for us and that will be difficult for him, and it will be difficult for him to tour in the summer.
“Like all these things you need to get to a certain point to give times but we’re talking probably months rather than weeks.
“He is very durable and doesn’t get injured much and ultimately will come back stronger from it and will be raring to go [come pre-season].
“Jac Morgan is back in, everyone else is as you already know.
“Long-term injuries are difficult to deal with emotionally. It seems to be that we only have long-term and no short-term ones.
“That is the nature of the beast but having Jac back is great. There has been a different energy for the session that we have just done because of the caliber of the whole group.
“There is no substitute for strength in depth and competition for places because it keeps the energy, motivation and standards high.”
Click here for more up to date sports news
[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]
