Brumbies issue grim update on Wallabies prospect Charlie Cale

The ACT Brumbies have issued an update on in-form Wallabies prospect Charlie Cale, who injured himself against the Highlanders at the weekend during the sides’ Super Rugby Pacific clash at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

Cale left the field against the Highlanders last Friday after just 27 minutes, and later complained of shoulder soreness before undergoing scans.

After he was left out of selection for the weekend game with Fijian Drua, the Brumbies have now confirmed that he is set to be on the sidelines for some time.

The Brumbies statement reads: “Back-rower Charlie Cale sustained a shoulder injury in our match against the Highlanders and is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks. He will continue to work closely with the club’s medical team on his rehabilitation and return-to-play timeline.”

It’s bad timing for Cale, who had been enjoying an excellent season. The injury would see him back in late May, early June, meaning he’s in a race against time to play a part in the tail end of the Super season.

It means he will have little time to prove his fitness ahead of the start of the Test season and the inaugural Nations Championship.

The 6’5, 105kg 25-year-old backrower has won two Test caps for Australia to date.

Cale has made 25 Super Rugby Pacific appearances for the Brumbies, starting 24 matches and scoring 17 tries for a total of 85 points.

At Test level, he has featured twice for the Wallabies, both caps coming against Wales.

He’s certainly strengthened his case for a Wallabies return after two years on the outside with outstanding form for the Brumbies. The athletic back-rower has scored nine tries in seven matches, making him one of the most prolific forwards in the league’s history, scoring an average of 1.3 tries per appearance this season, a stat most wingers would take your arm off for.