6 Nations
All the Injuries Coming into Round 3
The injury lists are piling up for some teams in this years 6 Nations and some key men are missing
We are about to reach the halfway point in this year’s 6 Nations championship but there have been a lot of players missing and more have been injured over the past few weeks.
Here’s a guide on each country’s injury worries heading into round 3.
Firstly, championship leaders England, who head to Wales looking to make it three wins from three. They will have to do so without a number of key players.
It was confirmed during the week that Chris Ashton will miss the clash with a calf strain, adding to the news that Mako Vunipola will miss the rest of the tournament with an ankle injury.
Lock Maro Itoje has also been ruled out as he continues to recover from a knee injury sustained earlier in the competition.
These are the latest to join the list of injuries that have seen players such as Chris Robshaw, Dylan Hartley, Anthony Watson, Sam Underhill and Jonathan Joseph be sidelined.
Wales:
Their opposition Wales are missing a couple of players such as centre Scott Williams who is out with a back injury and Rhys Patchell who has a hamstring injury.
The worst injury update for the Welsh is that Taulupe Faletau, who had been missing from action for a while, made his comeback over the weekend only to suffer a fractured forearm.
The Welsh have had more positive news this week than bad news as Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny have been passed fit to play and will offer them a huge boost.
France face Scotland this weekend too with the French missing only a few key men with Teddy Thomas, who is recovering from a thigh injury, being joined by Yoann Maestri and Cedric Gomes Sa on the injury list.
Scotland:
However, their opponents, Scotland have a host of injuries. The high-profile injuries are to star full-back, Stuart Hogg, and star fly-half, Finn Russell, who are out due to a shoulder injury and concussion respectively.
Huw Jones is out for the remainder of the competition after suffering knee ligament damage. While the other players out are Ryan Wilson (ligaments), WP Nel (calf), Hamish Watson (head), John Hardie (head), David Denton (head), John Barclay (ruptured Achilles) and Sam Skinner (ankle).
In the last game of the weekend Italy host Ireland. Italy will be without captain fantastic, Sergio Parisse due to a concussion he sustained playing for Stade Francais over the weekend and Matteo Minozzi as he recovers from a knee injury.
Ireland:
Ireland on the other hand, will be without backs Garry Ringrose and Will Addison, with hamstring and back injuries respectively and back-rower Rhys Ruddock (hamstring strain).
They add to a list that already contains long-term absentees Luke McGrath (knee), CJ Stander (fractures), Dan Leavy (calf) and Devin Toner (ankle).
The positives for Ireland are that Tadhg Beirne and Ian Henderson have returned to the squad following time away through injuries and Kieran Marmion is back and will line out for Connacht this weekend to gain game time.
The list for the six teams is long, but one can only imagine what the players out will add if they are back for their respective countries come the World Cup in Japan later this year.
Ireland and Leinster loosehead prop Cian Healy has signed a 1 year extension to his IRFU contract up to the end of the 2021/22 season.
Cian is Ireland’s most capped prop forward having lined out for Ireland on 107 occasions to date. He made his Ireland debut against Australia in November 2009 and was selected for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia making two appearances before injury ended his involvement.
Cian has won three Six Nations titles with Ireland and represented Leinster on 226 occasions winning four Heineken Cup titles during his career in blue.
David Nucifora, IRFU Performance Director, commented,
“Cian has been a cornerstone of both the Irish and Leinster packs for over a decade. He has shown incredible resilience to come back from serious injury and perform at the highest level. Cian has a lot to contribute to Irish Rugby and we are delighted that he has signed on for another year.”
Cian Healy, commented,
“My drive for success at both Leinster and Ireland is as strong as ever. I am lucky enough to currently be part to two teams with the same mentality which is special and I look forward to another season of pushing boundaries and achieving our goals.
I’m loving my rugby as much now as I did at the very start of my career and looking forward to having our supporters back in stadia.”
Article from Irish Rugby
Ireland and Munster backrow Peter O’Mahony has signed a two year extension to his IRFU contract keeping him at Munster until 2023.
Peter made his Ireland debut in the Six Nations against Italy in 2012 and has gone on to win 74 caps and captain his country on eight occasions. A Lions tourist in 2017, Peter captained the Lions in the opening Test of the series against New Zealand.
Peter has represented Munster on 141 occasions becoming captain of his province in 2013 at the age of 24.
David Nucifora, IRFU Performance Director, commented,
“Peter has played a leadership role in Munster from an early age and is one of the senior leaders in the national squad. He is a competitor and passionate about playing for both Ireland and Munster.”
Peter O’Mahony, commented,
“It’s a huge privilege to sign on with the province and country I’ve grown up in and dreamed of playing for. It’s been something I’ve been very open about saying from day one and its very pleasing to be able to continue the journey for two more years.
There’s a huge amount of responsibility that comes with representing both teams and I understand how much pressure there is to deliver silverware, however, I am incredibly enthusiastic on the position and competitiveness of both Munster and Ireland and I look forward to hopefully contributing to both, to succeed in delivering that success on the pitch.”
Ireland and Leinster out-half Johnny Sexton has signed a 1 year extension to his IRFU contract up to the end of the 2021/22 season.
The 2018 World Player of the Year took on the Ireland captaincy in January 2020 and is one of Irish rugby’s most decorated players.
He has been central to both Ireland and Leinster’s success for over a decade following his international debut against Fiji in November 2009.
A two time Lions tourist in 2013 and 2017, Johnny has won three Six Nations titles with Ireland and four European Cups with Leinster. He has represented his provinces on 171 occasions scoring 1505 points.
David Nucifora, IRFU Performance Director, commented,
“Johnny continues to show he has the quality and appetite to compete at the highest levels. He is playing an important leadership role with the Ireland squad and his insight and experience continues to be of great value to the group.”
Johnny Sexton, commented,
“I am really enjoying my rugby and I want to keep learning and adding value to both the Ireland and Leinster environments. I am enjoying the challenge of captaincy and the added responsibility that it brings. My appetite for success is the same as it ever was and the ambitions of both the Ireland and Leinster squads match my own.”
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