Eight players who are set to potentially benefit from the virus suspension of the rugby season
Sporting calendars are currently in turmoil due to the coronavirus pandemic, with governing bodies facing the troublesome task of deciding whether competitions should be postponed, rescheduled or even abandoned. Rugby has embraced this problem by taking different courses of action. Tournaments like Japan’s Top League and the United States’ Major League Rugby have been cancelled completely. Meanwhile, competitions that were at slightly more advanced stages of the season such as the Gallagher Premiership and the Top 14 have only been suspended for now.
With so much uncertainty at this time in the world, sport understandably is not a priority and therefore there is no clarity on how the different competitions will pan out. Whatever happens, teams at least have this layoff period to let their players rest before what could be a very intense run of fixtures. Moreover, when the action does restart, some teams will be handed the very welcome return of players who had been injured being able to help with a late-season push.
With that delayed end to the season in mind, here are some players who could return to play their part having initially thought they would miss a huge part of the season due to injury:
Billy Vunipola
England’s No8 missed the Six Nations after breaking his arm for the fourth time while playing for Saracens in January. The 27-year-old was in a race to return for his club to play in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster at the start of April. With that postponed, he will be fit should anything eventually be played in Europe.
With nothing to play for domestically this season, Saracens can only rely on their European endeavours for success, meaning they will want to field the best team possible against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium. From England’s perspective, Vunipola will also be available for the final Six Nations match against Italy whenever that is to be played. Eddie Jones’ side require a bonus-point win to put them in contention for the championship title.
Piers Francis
The England and Northampton Saints midfielder was stretchered off the field in late January in the Gallagher Premiership loss to London Irish, suffering from a second head injury in quick succession.
He had not returned for Chris Boyd’s side by the time all rugby was brought to a halt. In that time, the Saints lost three matches (including the one he came off in), but they still sit in fourth place in the Premiership and are into the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup. Francis should be back when rugby resumes, which will be delightful news to all involved with Northampton.
Joey Carbery
Ireland and Munster fly-half Joey Carbery is expected to be out of action until pre-season of the 2020/21 campaign after ankle and wrist operations, but with the entire calendar looking so nebulous, that could actually become the tail-end of this season.
Munster are in a promising position in the Guinness PRO14 and Carbery could make an encouraging return should the rest of the season be played out belatedly. That is still fairly unlikely, given how long he was expected to be out for, but the main positive is that he is likely to be available for the denouement of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign, which will probably be played in the autumn.
Andy Farrell’s side, who still have to face Italy in Dublin and France in Paris, are still very much in the hunt for the title. Carbery’s return could provide some competition for Jonathan Sexton, or at the very least add more potency from the bench.
A bit of pain and suffering for the start of the week! Trying to improve myself during this period! Erg fitness is like a magnifying glass into the soul, makes you question everything but the success at the end feels incredible! @mcsportireland pic.twitter.com/vUeP3o4FpN
— Cian Healy (@ProperChurch) April 6, 2020
Cian Healy
Ruled out for the remainder of the Six Nations after coming off against England with a hip injury, the prop will be yet another boost for Ireland when they resume their campaign later this year. What would have been most disappointing for the 32-year-old was that the final match of this year’s Championship in Paris would have been his 100th Ireland cap, which would have been all the more special with the title on the line. He will now have the chance to fight for a place in the team later on this year to achieve that milestone.
The loosehead was targeting a return for the Champions Cup quarter-final against Saracens, so his injury was not too serious, but it may have been touch-and-go as to whether he would have made it against the reigning champions. With the delay in matches, Leo Cullen will now be encouraged his veteran prop should be fit for a potentially promising end of the season for Leinster.
— Josh Adams (@JoshAdams951) March 19, 2020
Josh Adams
The Wales winger missed his country’s most recent Six Nations contest against England at Twickenham following surgery to an ankle injury sustained against France. With ten tries in his previous ten Tests, Adams is one of the most lethal finishers in the game but was expected to spend three months on the sidelines.
The good news for Wales is that he is now likely to be fit for their fixture against Scotland in Cardiff in what was the Super Saturday fixture. The bad news is that there is not much to play for in that fixture. With the Cardiff Blues also stuttering this season in the PRO14, his return may not change a lot.
National boss Wayne Pivac could also expect the return of Jonathan Davies and Gareth Anscombe for that Scotland Test should it be played in the latter stages of this year. Both players are nursing long term knee injuries and while they are not expected to play at all this season, regardless of when it is finished, they should be back playing by the autumn.
Jordan Petaia is officially the youngest ever @wallabies player to score at a Rugby World Cup. #RWC2019 #AUSvURU pic.twitter.com/y29M8fbMj7
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 5, 2019
Jordan Petaia
For the second season running, the promising Australia and Reds outside back was ruled out of the Super Rugby season very early on. Last year it was a foot injury and this year a dislocated shoulder for the 20-year-old, which put his participation in the July Test matches in doubt as well.
The Super Rugby season was originally expected to finish in June but that could be pushed back by a matter of months, meaning Petaia could make a return to Brad Thorn’s Reds for the back end of the season.
For many players from the southern hemisphere who are injured, this current suspension means they may not miss the opportunity to represent their countries in July with many Tests expected to be abandoned. Players will be hoping to return for a delayed Rugby Championship.
?? @crusadersrugby head coach Scott Robertson talks Tik Tok, his Crusaders environment & being a sous chef ????
READ ?? https://t.co/DKu3W50VN5 pic.twitter.com/q48hdaPHPX
— Super Rugby (@SuperRugbyNZ) April 6, 2020
Quinten Strange
This was expected to be the breakout season for the Crusaders lock in the absence of Sam Whitelock. Unfortunately, a broken hand in a pre-season fixture put all plans on hold for the 23-year-old, who would have been hoping to work his way into Ian Foster’s All Blacks squad for July.
Although it looks increasingly likely that those Test matches will not go ahead, Strange will nonetheless want to return to a Crusaders side that did not look at its imperious best in the opening six games of the season. Scott Robertson’s side still sits on top of the New Zealand conference, but they have not swept aside all in front of them as they have in seasons past.
I chat with, no clothes and no traps @finn_russell
He gives us a guided tour of the jungle and we speak about the obvious, obviously, on @RugbyPass #Thelockdown on YouTube.Full link here https://t.co/4JrokWS4D6 pic.twitter.com/qTmL3ZVfyC
— Jim Hamilton (@jimhamilton4) March 28, 2020
Finn Russell
The Scotland out-half isn’t injured and was still playing for Racing 92 before the pandemic stoppage, but his Scotland career was on hold due to his feud with coach Gregor Townsend. By the time rugby resumes, he expects to be on better terms with the Scottish boss which would put him in contention for Scotland’s summer tour of South Africa, albeit one that is unlikely to be played.
With Scotland still waiting to visit Cardiff for the final match of the Six Nations, Russell’s return would provide a boost to the team and could help the Scots finish what would be a decent tournament for them.
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
24 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
1 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
24 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
24 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to comments