The Welsh rugby union captain, Gwyn Jones, is said to be "comfortable" after an operation to ease the pressure on his spine.

The Cardiff flanker, who was rushed to hospital on Saturday after being badly hurt in a match against Swansea, suffered an injury to his spinal cord and was left without movement in his arms and legs.

The Welsh team will be without their captain in the 1998 Five Nations Tournament

A spokesman said: "The hospital has confirmed Gwyn Jones had an operation this morning [Tuesday] as planned. He is now in a comfortable position on the ward.

"At the present time his medical team are unable to give any further indication of his likely long-term improvement."

The chief executive of Cardiff rugby club, Gareth Davies, who visited Jones before the operation, said: "Gwyn is in remarkably good spirits considering what he's been through.

"He's been helped by the support he's received from his friends, colleagues and the general public."

P> Wales rugby union captain Gwyn Jones suffered "a significant spinal cord injury" in the top-of-the-table premier division game between Cardiff and Swansea.

National skipper

He was only appointed Welsh captain this summer and has led the national side to five wins in six matches.

A 6ft, 15st flanker, he made his international debut against Italy in 1996 before making his first Five Nations' appearance against England at Twickenham later that year.

Jones captained the Wales under-15 side in 1988 and two years later won five under-18 caps.

In January 1996, he was one of five new caps in the full Wales team to play Italy. One month later he made his Five Nations debut against England at Twickenham.

Player's father has heart attack

Saturday's match, won 31-22 by Swansea, was also held up in the second half when Swansea skipper Garin Jenkins, who was about to take a throw-in at a line-out, jumped into the crowd to help his father Ivor who had collapsed with a suspected heart attack.

The game was stopped for three minutes. Jenkins was substituted and went with his father and mother, Anne, in an ambulance to Cardiff Royal Infirmary where his father was taken to intensive care.

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