Wales No. 8 Taulupe Faletau Ruled Out Of World Cup
Wales No. 8 Taulupe Faletau Ruled Out Of World Cup
Wales no. 8 Taulupe Faletau broken collarbone
Wales No. 8 Taulupe Faletau has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup in Japan with a collarbone injury, the Welsh Rugby Union said on Thursday.
The Bath player, who has won 72 caps for Wales and has played in four Tests for the British and Irish Lions, will need surgery.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.”
— Taulupe Faletau (@taulupe) January 15, 2019
In & out. I’ll be back ?? pic.twitter.com/Rc0pmKdbI5
"Taulupe Faletau has been ruled out of Rugby World Cup contention due to a clavicle injury," the WRU said in a statement on its website.
US-based subscribers can watch Wales LIVE in the Summer Test Series
"The injury was sustained in an innocuous training ground incident and will require surgery," the statement continued. "A prognosis and return to play time-frame will be established after surgery.
"The Wales squad and management would like to wish Taulupe the very best with his recovery."
49 - Taulupe Faletau made the most carries (49) and beat the most defenders (12) of any @WelshRugbyUnion player during the 2015 @rugbyworldcup. Blow. pic.twitter.com/TrNZ4Rf6O8
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) August 1, 2019
It is the latest cruel injury setback for 28-year-old, who broke his arm twice last season and has not played for Wales since March 2018.
But he has trained with Wales this summer and was recently part of an intensive two-week camp in the Swiss Alps as he built towards potential World Cup selection.
Only last month, Faletau spoke about his hunger to play again after being sidelined for so long.
His absence will be keenly felt, although Wales have considerable back-row resources with Ross Moriarty, Josh Navidi, Aaron Shingler, Justin Tipuric and Aaron Wainwright among those in head coach Warren Gatland's training squad.
Gatland is due to name his final 31-man World Cup squad in early September, with Wales's opening game being against Georgia in Toyota City on September 23.
—Agence France-Presse