The Injury Prone Rugby XV
While there are some players who coast through their careers relatively unscathed, there are those such as Sam Warburton who are not so lucky. Some players just seem to attract injuries – sometimes down to the way they play the game, but other times simply down to misfortune.
Here is a RugbyPass XV of players who have had the most injury-plagued careers:
15. Juan Martin Hernandez
The Argentine magician was forced to retire in 2018 after a knee injury that was the end of a catalogue of problems for the utility back. Revered as one of the most spellbinding players in a game, a back injury for the Sharks in 2009 during the prime of his career – followed by knee surgery – meant he didn’t play for his country again until August 2012.
Honourable mention: Leigh Halfpenny
14. Richard Kahui
The former All Blacks winger may have started the 2011 RWC final, but that would prove to be his 17th and final cap at the age of 26. While it may be the injuries post-2011 that have defined his career, they perhaps gloss over his shoulder problems that came before then as well.
13. Manu Tuilagi
Although it looks as if he may have turned a corner regarding his injury problems, Tuilagi only earned two England caps between 2014 and 2019 (there were also disciplinary issues). Persistent problems with his groin, which even ruled him out of Six Nations matches this year, were what once put the centre’s career in jeopardy.
12. Pat Lambie
It may have been a knee ligament that forced former Springboks international from the field in his final professional game for Racing 92, but that was just the tip of the iceberg for the 56-cap back. Few players have been dogged by concussion as much as the South African, and the troubling symptoms pertaining to multiple head injuries were the ultimate reason behind his early retirement in 2019.
11. Nehe Milner-Skudder
After bursting onto the Test scene in 2015 and starting in the RWC final for the All Blacks, he has only been able to add another five caps since then. The 29-year-old has been blighted by shoulder injuries but is set to make a return in the upcoming Super Rugby Aotearoa for the Highlanders.
10. Jonny Wilkinson
While his career may have been bookended with moments of glory, Wilkinson had some catastrophic injuries sandwiched in between. Despite making a return for the Lions in 2005, it was 1,168 days until Wilkinson would make another appearance for England after kicking the winning drop goal in 2003, enduring some rare and gut-wrenching injuries in that time.
Danny Cipriani was the first name chosen by Josh Raisey when picking this particular England XV https://t.co/OMBdUIFOSV
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 3, 2020
9. Rhys Webb
Although he is fighting fit now, he is a player well acquainted with the surgeon’s table. Having made his Test debut in 2012 for Wales, a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament wrote off much of 2013 for him, a foot injury ruled him out of the 2015 RWC, he underwent ankle surgery in 2016, and a knee problem in 2018 then excluded him from the Six Nations and ended his time with the Ospreys prematurely.
1. Alex Corbisiero
The ex-England and Lions international suffered a string of injuries to his neck, knee and back after moving from London Irish to the Northampton Saints in 2013. He took an extended break from the game in 2016 but has not returned, finishing his career with 31 caps.
Honourable mention: Cian Healy
2. Jerry Flannery
Deprived of a place on the 2009 Lions tour as a result of an elbow injury in pre-tour training, the former Ireland and Munster hooker also missed the majority of the 2011 World Cup with a calf injury. He would not return to the Test arena and was forced to retire in 2012.
3. Martin Castrogiovanni
The former Italy prop did have a 119-cap, 15-year professional career, but the nature of some of his absences were noticeable, namely missing a Six Nations game after being bitten by a dog.
In 2018 @ettasreynecke was admitted to ICU 3 times for 3 different reasons, but it didn't stop him taking up MMA (whilst learning to talk to again)
This is his remarkable story, as told to @heagneyl https://t.co/Fox7vj0m5Y
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 31, 2020
4. Richie Gray
He has endured a terrible run of injuries in recent years, largely to his back and hip which have limited him to just one international appearance in over three years.
5. Paul O’Connell
Given the intensity that the former Munster, Ireland and Lions captain played with, it’s no surprise that he picked up a number of injuries despite amassing 115 caps. His first major setback was a complicated groin problem that wiped out much of his 2010, he then suffered a long-term back issue in 2012 that cast his chances of making the Lions in doubt. He did make that 2013 tour but broke his arm in the first Test. His career ultimately then came to an end at the 2015 RWC when he ripped his hamstring off the bone.
6. Tom Croft
Between 2009 and 2012 the Leicester Tigers, England and Lions flanker was world-class, defined by his trademark pace. He missed almost a year of rugby after the 2012 Six Nations with a neck injury and although he returned for the 2013 Lions tour, he would only play two more games for England – both in the 2015 Six Nations – before retiring in 2017 at the age of 31 with 45 caps.
Honourable mentions: Stephen Ferris, Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton
One of the most high-profile players to be afflicted with a slew of injuries throughout his career, the former Wales and Lions captain retired in 2018 at the age of 29. The 79-cap international’s injury list is a harrowing read, covering his ankle, both knees, shoulders, head injuries and many more.
Honourable mention: Tom Rees
8. David Pocock/Sean O’Brien
The fact that there is a host of loose forwards who could make this team suggests the demands of the position, but Pocock and O’Brien must be mailed in somewhere. Both are capable of playing across the back row and simply undroppable when fit, but the haul of only 78 caps for the Australian and 61 for the Irishman shows how injury deprived them of many more.
Honourable mentions: Warren Whiteley, Billy Vunipola
Comments on RugbyPass
Are the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
2 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 …
30 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
2 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!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 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 commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to comments