George North: Should be fit for start of Six Nations

George North has handed Wales a huge boost with the news that he should be fit for the start of the Six Nations.

The wing was stretchered off in the second-half of the Scarlets' RaboDirect PRO12 match at Ulster last Friday with what looked like a serious neck injury.

But he could be back in time to take on Leinster in the Heineken Cup in two weeks' time.

Scarlets coach Simon Easterby said: "It would be a pretty remarkable turnaround if he's available for Leinster.

"It's not nice to see anyone go off like that but fortunately George isn't as bad as first feared. We will see how he goes this week. He is one of a few players that are on the sick list but might come through for the game.

"But we have to be mindful that he's had a bit of a whack there. If there is any danger we won't play him. We have to know he is 100 per cent. It's important we look after him."

The Scarlets' head of medicine Andy Walker said North had a lucky escape.

"His neck was down in the flex position and he had a knee right in the middle of the back of the neck," said Walker.

"He had a double whip-lash right on the neck where it was tender. That could have caused significant injury.

"The symptoms on the pitch were as if he had a serious spinal injury so we had take the precautionary route.

"Fortunately the CT scan and X-ray in Ulster were clear and we're just dealing with some soft tissue trauma. Severe bruising.

"It's definitely positive for the Six Nations. All being well he is not far off."