With less than two weeks kick off until the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the country has high expectations of this, the golden generation of Irish rugby. Despite coming off the back of defeats in the Autumn internationals, high expectations remain within the thousands of Irish fans who will be avidly following the event over the coming weeks. The team jetted off today on the long journey to the Southern Hemisphere, prior to their first match versus the USA on September 11th.
Keeping the Irish rugby team fit and healthy over the coming month or so is one of the greatest challenges of the coaches, doctors and physiotherapists of the team. Endless effort is invested into ensuring that these players are at the top of their game physically and indeed mentally. Unfortunately as with any sport there are going to be injuries. The Irish team has already suffered two huge blows in David Wallace, the stalwart flanker and with Felix Jones, the highly promising Munster back.
David Wallace, the 35 year old flanker suffered from very serious ligament damage to his knee, which was sustained while his studs seemed to catch the turf just before engaging in contact with Manu Tuilagi’s tackle. Wallace has undergone surgery on the injury sustained and is expected to be side-lined for the next 6 months. Felix Jones, Wallace’s Munster teammate was equally as unfortunate as he sustained an ankle injury during the French game. The 24 year old now faces a period of rehabilitation and physiotherapy to get him back for the latter stages of the Heineken cup.
Here at The Physio Company we would like to wish to wish everyone in the Irish camp and also all those involved in involved in the process of getting us to New Zealand the very best of luck and we are sure you will do us all very proud at the championships. We also wish to wish those aforementioned speedy recoveries and look forward to seeing them back on the pitch. Keep an eye out for our future posts relating to the Rugby World Cup and other Irish sporting events.