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Six Nations star undergoes 'spine stabilisation' surgery
By Josh Raisey
Italy and Benetton tighthead prop Simone Ferrari is facing an extended period on the sidelines after undergoing spinal surgery on Thursday.
The 31-year-old missed the final round of the Guinness Six Nations against Wales with the injury, as the Azzurri lost 31-17 in Cardiff.
Prior to the defeat, Ferrari had been one of Italy’s star performers in the Championship, being the pillar of the second-strongest scrum in the tournament.
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Benetton released a medical update on Saturday: “On Thursday, March 19, Simone Ferrari underwent cervical spine stabilisation surgery. The procedure was performed by Dr. Marc Szadkowski in Lyon. The prop will now begin his rehabilitation program.
“Benetton Rugby wish Simone a speedy recovery and a soon return to the field.”
In Ferrari’s absence, Benetton triumphed over the Ospreys 31-19 in the return to the United Rugby Championship on Saturday.
The victory keeps the Italian outfit in the hunt for the top eight in the URC, though they still sit in twelfth place with 27 points, eight points adrift of the eighth-place Bulls.
Benetton XV: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren (59- Alessandro Garbisi); 8 Michele Lamaro (C) (55- So’otala Fa’aso’o), 7 Alessandro Izekor (63- Scott Scrafton), 6 Riccardo Favretto, 5 Eli Snyman (66- Mattia Midena), 4 Giulio Marini (68- Matt Gallagher), 3 Giosué Zilocchi (52- Marcos Gallorini), 2 Siua Maile (52- Nicholas Gasperini), 1 Thomas Gallo (52- Destiny Aminu).
Ospreys XV: 15 Iestyn Hopkins, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 Owen Watkin (63- Evardi Boshoff), 12 Keiran Williams (67- Luke Davies), 11 Ryan Conbeer (52- Harri Houston), 10 Jack Walsh, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Harri Deaves (46- Jac Morgan), 6 James Ratti, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 James Fender (63- Huw Sutton), 3 Tom Botha (52- Rhys Henry), 2 Sam Parry (C) (52- Lewis Lloyd), 1 Steffan Thomas (52- Garyn Phillips).
