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Surgery rules England hopeful out of the Six Nations
Gloucester prop Val Rapava-Ruskin has suffered a “devastating blow” in his bid to break into the England squad, with knee surgery ruling him out of contention for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations.
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George Skivington, the Gloucester director of rugby, has revealed that he doesn’t expect to have his powerhouse prop back in action until the “back end of the season” after the player lost his battle to sort out the knee injury without the intervention of a surgeon.
Rapava-Ruskin was excluded from the England Rugby World Cup training squad preparing for the tournament in France in mid-July and was determined to prove that was the wrong call.
Skivington, who is already without long-term injury victims Adam Hastings, the Scottish outside half, and No8 Ruan Ackermann, will also have to face Leicester in the Gallagher Premiership next Saturday without Fiji forward Albert Tuisue, who damaged his calf in the 25-24 loss to Exeter. The extent of that injury is still to be determined, but he could also be sidelined for some weeks.
“It is not good news about Val and he will be out for a number of months and we won’t see him until post the mid-season break,” explained Skivington on Tuesday, two days after a last-gasp penalty consigned Gloucester to defeat at Exeter.
“We have no idea how he has done what he did (to the knee). He has had an irritation in there which we thought he could battle through but when they did the investigation it was worse.
“We erred on the side of caution and made sure he got the surgery he needed and it is a devastating blow – no doubt. We would rather have a fit Val at the back end of the season than drag something on. Val has no idea why his knee started blowing up. Initially, he wasn’t in any pain, so we weren’t too worried and had it drained a couple of times.
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“However, it kept coming back to a ridiculous level. He has got big knees anyway and it was huge. It is gutting when someone gets released from a World Cup camp and he wants to put his hand up and show everyone what he can do. Unfortunately, that is not how this has worked out.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Fiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to comments