Wales flanker set for 'couple of months' on sidelines despite playing on with broken bone

Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has revealed that flanker Christ Tshiunza will be out for “couple of months” after breaking his foot in his side’s 43-0 win over Sale Sharks on Saturday.

The 21-year-old Wales international was making his first appearance of the season for the Chiefs after returning from the World Cup. He picked up the injury after coming on from the bench, although Baxter explained how he played on through the injury. Despite a lengthy spell on the sidelines that awaits Tshiunza, Baxter did not think that surgery would be required.

The versatile forward featured in three of Wales’ five World Cup fixtures this year, and featured from the bench in the final 20 minutes of the quarter-final loss to Argentina in Marseille. Even if he had not picked up this injury, he would not have been eligible to play for Wales this weekend against the Barbarians as he is based in England.

England post-match presser – third-place play-off

England post-match presser – third-place play-off

Exeter have made a barnstorming start to the Gallagher Premiership season and sit in second place with two wins from three- both victories coming in impressive style against last season’s finalists Saracens and Sale. Despite this strong start to the season, the Chiefs will have to make do without Tshiunza for the coming months.

“He has broken a bone in his foot,” Baxter said this week ahead of Exeter’s contest with Bristol Bears on Sunday at Sandy Park, as reported by DevonLive.

“It was the only injury we picked up on Saturday. It was a bit innocuous, he didn’t come off with it. I don’t think he thought it was a big deal at the time but there has been some pain and we have had it x-rayed and scanned and he has got a fracture there and we have got to see how it mends.

“He will see a consultant to see if it requires an operation but I think that is unlikely.

“We just need to manage the injury now to make sure it heals well and we will look to get him up and running again but it will probably be a couple of months which is a bit of a shame because he has only done about 20 minutes for us in quite a long time and looked pretty good.”