Rugby star suffers gruesome injury (+pic)

Cipriani out six months, will miss NZ tour

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HORROR INJURY: The pain is etched on the face of England rugby star Danny Cipriani as his ankle is at right angles after being trapped at the bottom of a ruck in the Premiership semifinal against Bath.

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The new star of English rugby, Wasps first five-eighth Danny Cipriani, will miss the chance to go head-to-head with Daniel Carter in June after suffering a gruesome ankle injury in his club's Premiership semifinal victory over Bath.

Cipriani has been officially ruled out of England's two-test tour of New Zealand next month, with Wasps confirming he is out of the game for six months with a fracture dislocation of his ankle. He underwent surgery after being immediately rushed to hospital, along with England team-mate Tom Voyce who suffered a dislocated shoulder early in the match.

Wasps' head physiotherapist Prav Mathema said: "On behalf of London Wasps, Danny and Tom, I would like to thank everyone who was involved in managing the treatment of those two players. London Wasps' own medical team, Bath's medical team, the paramedics, consultants and the Lister Hospital staff were exemplary in their medical care of these two players."

England manager Martin Johnson said: "On behalf of the England summer tour squad we all feel for Danny over the injury he suffered on Sunday. The England medical team will be in regular contact with London Wasps over the next few months regarding his rehabilitation and we all wish Danny a speedy recovery.

"I will discuss with Rob Andrew and the coaches the candidates to replace Danny on the summer tour and we will make an announcement tomorrow."

The injury occurred in Sunday's match at Adams Park , won 21-10 by Wasps, when the 20-year-old was trapped on the bottom of a ruck after a tackle by Olly Barkley in the 49th minute.

The injury was so bad, and Cipriani in such pain, that the player had to be given oxygen before he could be taken from the field. It took the medical team nearly seven minutes to get Cipriani in a position where he was able to be safely moved.

The injury robs England's tour of one of the most hotly anticipated matchups, with Cipriani, who emerged as the country's new star five-eighth during the Six Nations championship, keen to measure himself against Carter in the test arena.

Bath and new England captain Steve Borthwick said the injury had been distressing for everyone involved in the match which did lose some of its impetus afterwards with both sides appearing to be shaken.

"Every one of us on the field was disturbed by what we saw. Danny was in tremendous pain and our hearts go out to him. You never want to see an injury like that happen to any player," Borthwick told UK reporters.

"We all risk those kind of injuries every time we take the field. Danny is a sensational rugby player and very important to English rugby for many years to come. At times like these, rugby becomes of secondary importance. We all want to see him making a speedy and complete recovery."

Wasps director of rugby and recently named Lions coach for 2009 Ian McGeechan also told reporters: "The only priority for Danny now is to be 100 per cent fit again. He's a talented player and his fitness should be all we're thinking about. "

Wasps skipper Lawrence Dallaglio knows from bitter experience what his young team-mate has in front of him. He needed six months to come back from a similar ankle injury incurred early on the Lions tour of New Zealand in 2005.

"We can only hope that it's not too serious and that he's back playing sooner than I was," Dallaglio, who retires at the end of this season, told reporters after the match.

"He got his leg caught under another player, which often happens. It's very unfortunate because Danny has a huge future. He will be in expert care and come back all the stronger. There is no need to worry too much about him. Unfortunately, in a game of such ferocity, there were always going to be casualties."

Cipriani's fellow Wasp and England international James Haskell said: "We are saddened because Danny is one of the best players in the world. An injury of this nature hits you hard but we have great medical staff."

With Jonny Wilkinson already ruled out of the New Zealand tour due to shoulder surgery, England are now likely to rely on Barkley and Toby Flood to cover the five-eighth position.

New England manager Johnson was among the crowd watching the match when the injury occurred.

England play New Zealand in Auckland on June 14 and Christchurch on June 21 in the first tests since Johnson took over as manager. The Premiership final between Wasps and Leicester is on May 31 at Twickenham.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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Blair Robson   #1   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Cipriani will no doubt just be another over-hyped English player anyway. It doesn't matter who they send down. The All Blacks will smash whoever they bring here.

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