Mike Brown unlikely to play again this season
Mike Brown is unlikely to play again this season after Harlequins revealed he would be out for six to nine months because of knee surgery.
Brown, 34, sustained the injury in pre-season and – after struggling through two recent matches – the decision was taken for him to undergo surgery.
“Mike has tried hard to train and play over the last few weeks but unfortunately his situation has worsened,” said head of rugby Paul Gustard. “It would be damaging to his long-term knee health if he continued to try and play.
“He is disappointed as Mike wants to compete and give his all to the shirt. Under the guidance of our medical team led by Mike Lancaster, allied to Mike’s incredible attitude to improve and his diligence to rehab, I know he will do everything he can to return to play faster than anticipated. We will look to see how we can use Mike in other capacities to help the squad.”
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Head of medical services Lancaster added: “Mike has been the model professional and is fully committed to a conservative reload and return to play, within hopefully six to nine months. Unfortunately, after playing the last two games, the restriction in function would not allow Mike to perform at his best or indeed allow optimal preparation within the week.”
Brown isn’t the only player in need of surgery. Welsh hooker Scott Baldwin, who joined the club in the summer, sustained an injury to his neck in the Champions Cup defeat at Clermont.
Lancaster confirmed: “Scott will undergo surgery next week to address his neck injury. He is understandably disappointed to be missing out on game time, but his professionalism and focus will no doubt help in expediting his return to play in the new year.”
‘I’d seen arguably one of the worst things, watching your mother die. I went, ‘Right, what is the worst thing that can happen if I make a mistake on the rugby pitch?’
– Championship veteran @Toby__Freeman on his new lease of life in @premrugby
https://t.co/Gj3zq17fUA— liam heagney (@heagneyl) September 7, 2019
Gustard added: “Scott has settled in really well and is a popular member of the squad. He was outstanding in pre-season and demonstrated strong leadership qualities. He had made a promising start to the season and his injury is a further loss to a position where Rob Buchanan is yet to regain fitness and Max Crumpton is out until the new year.
“We know Scott is determined to attack his rehabilitation the same way he does a scrum and he will do all that’s required to return to play faster than anticipated. I know our fans will wish him the very best in his recovery from his forthcoming surgery.”
WATCH: Warren Gatland on what it will be like taking on his old team Wales this weekend as Barbarians coach
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to comments