Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Faletau tweets message from hospital bed as World Cup dream ends

By Online Editors
Bath and Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau

Taulupe Faletau has underlined his disappointment with “how things have turned out” after he was sidelined from Wales’ World Cup campaign.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bath number eight Faletau, who has won 72 caps and played in four Tests for the British and Irish Lions, suffered a collarbone injury during Wales training.

The Welsh Rugby Union said he would require surgery following what the governing body described as “an innocuous training ground incident”.

Faletau tweeted a picture of him in a hospital bed on Friday, and said: “Thank you for all of your messages of support.

Video Spacer

“Disappointed with how things have turned out, and to miss out on the chance to represent Wales at RWC 2019 – but it wasn’t meant to be.

“Wishing the rest of the squad every success going forward. See you soon.”

It is the latest major injury setback for Faletau, who broke his arm twice last season.

His last Wales appearance came more than 16 months ago, but he trained with the nation this summer and was recently part of an intensive two-week camp in the Swiss Alps.

ADVERTISEMENT

His absence will be keenly felt, although Wales have considerable back-row resources, with the likes of Ross Moriarty, Josh Navidi, Aaron Shingler, Justin Tipuric and Aaron Wainwright among those in head coach Warren Gatland’s training squad.

Gatland is due to name his final 31-man World Cup squad for Japan in early September, with Wales’ opening game being against Georgia in Toyota City on September 23.

Wales’ first World Cup warm-up fixture is a Twickenham appointment with England in nine days’ time.

Bath Director of Rugby, Stuart Hooper said of Faletau’s injury: “Any time a player misses out on a major competition is hugely disappointing – we are all feeling the impact of this news, especially as it follows a number of unfortunate and frustrating injuries for him. We will plan and support Toby’s recovery, making sure it is the very best for him, in order to maximise his successful return to the game.”

ADVERTISEMENT

– PA

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Luke Cowan-Dickie: 'I didn’t feel right. I felt like I was going to pass out. Everything was going black in front of me' Luke Cowan-Dickie: 'I didn’t feel right. I felt like I was going to pass out. Everything was going black in front of me'
Search