Rugby World Cup

Welsh Fly-Half’s World Cup in Doubt

Rhys Patchell’s most recent head injury could keep him out of the Rugby World Cup

Published

1 week ago

September 9, 2019

Joshua Freeman

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Wales out-half Rhys Patchell is set to have his concussion assessed before the side head off for the Rugby World Cup in Japan on Wednesday.

The injury was picked up during the first half of Wales’ 19-10 loss to Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday as he attempted to tackle CJ Stander.

Patchell then went off the pitch and failed a subsequent Head Injury Assessment, meaning he sustained his third concussion in the past 12 months.

Speaking after the game Wales head coach Warren Gatland confirmed that the Scarlets number 10 will undergo examination in the next couple of days.

“We’ll talk to the medics and see how he feels over the next few days. He will be assessed over the next few days. We will see how he comes out of the next couple of days,” he said.

Patchell has been extremely unfortunate in the past year on the injury front having suffered a serious hamstring injury along with those three concussions.

However, despite his injury woes, he impressed in the absence of Wales’ first-choice fly-half Gareth Anscombe and Gatland has selected him and Dan Biggar as his two kickers for the tournament.

Depending on what happens over the next 48 hours Jarrod Evans, who was pipped to the 31-man squad by Patchell could be brought in if things don’t go Patchell’s way.

Wales take on Georgia in their opening World Cup fixture on September 23^rd and whether Patchell travels or not the team will have to be much better than they have been on late having lost three of their four warm-up games.

Related Topics:Featured Georgia Ireland Japan Scarlets Wales

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Rugby World Cup

Another Injury Setback for Ireland

Ireland look set to be without another key player for their opening Rugby World Cup game against Scotland on Sunday

Published

13 hours ago

September 16, 2019

Joshua Freeman

(Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Ireland full-back Rob Kearney is the latest star that appears likely to miss the side’s opening Rugby World Cup game against Scotland on Sunday.

The Leinster man is reported to be suffering from a calf problem that he picked up during training earlier today and now is a major doubt for not only the team’s Scottish clash but also their game against Japan six days later.

If Kearney is to miss the game it would seem likely that head coach Joe Schmidt would pick either one of Andrew Conway or Jordan Larmour in the 15 jersey, but it is far from ideal.

Kearney’s injury follows the news that centre Robbie Henshaw is unlikely to feature during the game with Scots as he tries to overcome a hamstring injury, with Will Addison apparently on standby back in Ireland.

However, unlike Kearney’s injury Ireland are well covered in the midfield with Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki and Chris Farrell all fighting to make it into the starting XV.

Elsewhere, Joey Carbery is training once more following the ankle injury he picked up against Italy in their opening warm-up game.

However, wing Keith Earls is still not training fully in what is another worry for the Irish as the injuries continue to pile up.

Ireland open up their World Cup campaign against Scotland on Sunday, before games against hosts Japan, Russia and Samoa as they look to progress from pool A, but they will be hoping some of their key men will be back in action for those clashes.

Rugby World Cup

Irish Star Set to Miss RWC Opener

Ireland look set to be without one of their key men when they play Scotland on Sunday, but there is more positive news elsewhere in the squad

Published

14 hours ago

September 16, 2019

Joshua Freeman

(Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw appears set to miss the team’s Rugby World Cup opening game against Scotland on Sunday with a hamstring injury.

The Irish camp are not giving up hope on Henshaw recovering, but they have finally admitted that he is “unlikely to feature” against the Scots. Ireland’s scrum coach Greg Feek confirmed the news to the media.

“Robbie’s looking very, very unlikely for this weekend obviously. But we’ve just got back from training and still sorting things out, but I think it’s reasonably positive in terms of what we saw,” he said.

However, despite seeming very unlikely to play this weekend Feek is confident that Henshaw will return to action soon.

“Some of these guys, day by day, week by week, they can improve dramatically as opposed to the average human. So we’ll just take it like that at the moment. It’s looking positive, so from here on in we’ll just see how it goes in the next few days and then maybe reassess in the not too distant future. He’s a good man, great to have around, his work ethic is incredible and you know he’s doing the work. To be at this stage now there’s probably a sense of relief,” he added.

The IRFU have confirmed that Henshaw will remain in Japan with the 31-man squad, despite reports claiming that Will Addison is set to be called up by head coach Joe Schmidt, but they have decided not to release the full details of Henshaw’s injury yet which is a worrying sign.

#RWC2019

Reasonably positive news on Robbie Henshaw @henshawrob after the scan.

He is unlikely to feature v @Scotlandteam

He will be monitored and managed by the medical staff over the rest of the week and will not be returning home. 😀#shouldertoshoulder
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) September 16, 2019

In more positive news for Irish fans Feek also confirmed that fly-half Joey Carbery has been training fully as he continues to recover from an injury he picked up against Italy in a World Cup warm-up game.

“Joey was running around today and trained, he looked pretty good. So we’re just all really happy for him more than anything,” he finished.

Ireland will hope that Henshaw will recover in time to face Japan in their second game of the pool stages, however, all focus will be on kicking their campaign off with a perfect start against the Scots on Sunday.