Injury Update from Dai - Jack Willis and Others.

[Rossm]

Bobby Bridge in the Coventry Telegraph.

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/jack-willis-wasps-injury-updates-15638265

[wasps]

Some good news - thanks Ross



Wasps' breakthrough player of the 2017/18 season, Jack Willis, is nearing a return to playing action.
The 22-year-old was destined to tour South Africa last summer with England before suffering an ACL knee rupture against Saracens in the Premiership play-off defeat in May.
In a recent Instagram post, the back row suggested the 'end was now in sight' from his lengthy rehabilitation period.
Director of rugby Dai Young gave an update after Wasps' 27-16 victory over Northampton Saints.
"Jack Willis is back running," said Young. "He's not due back until the block of four games. He's certainly not available for Europe.
"Then we have the Prem Cup, which I don't think he'll be available for. Hopefully he's back training that week so we'll see how it goes."

The block of four games Young is referring to begins when the Gallagher Premiership reconvenes with Wasps heading to Ashton Gate to face Bristol Bears on February 16, followed by home matches against Sale Sharks and Newcastle Falcons sandwiching the trip to Leicester Tigers - all inside a 20-day period.
"We have some players coming back now which is great for the squad to see and great for Jack now," added Young.
"Jack had a great start to last season, then he got robbed by an injury, hopefully the injuries are behind him.
"He'll certainly be a big asset for us coming on the field."

Latest on Gopperth, Matt Mullan and Alex Rieder
Willis is closer to a return than two other members of the 'long-term knee injury' at Wasps club as Young also revealed when other key players could make their returns.
"Jimmy's [Gopperth] further away, as is Alex Rieder and Matt Mullan," he said. "Hopefully Tommy Taylor and Simon McIntyre won't be too far away but that's in their hands from a concussion point of view.
"Ashley Johnson will only be two weeks so four quality players back in the mix."

Taylor and McInyre have been missing due to concussion issues since November 11, when both suffered blows to the head against Bristol Bears.
Johnson has missed the last two games after suffering an abdominal muscle complaint.

Young added: "Those four games are massive for everybody, not just us. You look at Sale, they came into this block of fixture bottom, they've had a lot of players back and haven't lost since.
"That highlights how important your main players are in this competition, because there's not much between the teams.
"Three of four injuries can tip a result one way or the other. Hopefully we can keep our boys on the field now."

[andermt]

Slightly disappointing about Jimmy, was hoping he would be back for that block of 4 Prem games.

Great news about Jack though.

Alex has been back outside running as well from his social media, Matt Mullan is the strange one as he seems to be almost anonymous since his injury, he's not on social media but don't see him in others posts and he has been rarely mentioned in Dai's injury updates.

The 2 I worry about long term are Tommy & Chesty, if they are struggling to get over concussion protocols since November, does that put them at risk with any future head knocks, although that could be why they aren't rushing them back? Dai does seem quite vague as to when they will be back.

[Raggs]

Dai cannot be anything other than vague, it's entirely down to when the symptoms subside, and it's impossible to know when that will be. They could both be playing in a couple of weeks if they were all clear, but equally could need to consider retiring if they don't!

[RBB]

The 2 I worry about long term are Tommy & Chesty, if they are struggling to get over concussion protocols since November, does that put them at risk with any future head knocks, although that could be why they aren't rushing them back? Dai does seem quite vague as to when they will be back.

It is probably the same scenario as George North was in for a while, he seems to be firing on all cylinders now after prolonged rest periods, better to take a little longer and be 100% sure than rush players back at 80% certainty. Fingers crossed.

[BG]

I wonder what tests they are failing after such a long period. It can't be as simple as "what day is it?"

Are they having scans of some sort? Or are the medics simply relying on what the players are telling them.. i.e. still having dizzy spells etc?

[Neils]

Caution I suspect. I see that Halfpenny is being referred  to specialists to assess his concussions.  As has been said North and Hartley have gone through long lay offs. Hope they get clear soon though.

[Raggs]

I wonder what tests they are failing after such a long period. It can't be as simple as "what day is it?"

Are they having scans of some sort? Or are the medics simply relying on what the players are telling them.. i.e. still having dizzy spells etc?

There'll be scans, memory tests, self reporting of headaches/dizziness after looking at screens/exercise etc.

[wasps]

I'm quite happy at the fact that the club have sent our guys have seen specialists a couple of times in the last 8 weeks.
The way I read the article about Halfpenny, he was going to a specialist for the first time.


This is obviously a serious and high profile situation, however, just because the players have been out for a couple of months, it doesn't immediately mean that they'll be retiring or that their careers will be shortened.
I'm not condoning it, but in the past, plenty of players have played various sports after having been knocked unconscious. They've also played with what we now know to be concussion symptoms.
While there are some instances of players having to retire, or having issues in later life because it, a number have also gone on to have long, successful careers without suffering issues afterwards.

There's also a number of other causes for ongoing headaches and other concussion symptoms. I believe it was thought that Sam Jones was suffering with concussion for a long period of time, but it was then found to be something else entirely.


The point I'm trying to make is that McIntyre and Taylor are being well looked after, no risks are being taken at all, and the fact that they've been out for so long doesn't necessarily mean that it's bad news for their careers - given all the talk at the moment of player burnout, this enforced rest may actually be doing them a lot of good

[andermt]

The 2 I worry about long term are Tommy & Chesty, if they are struggling to get over concussion protocols since November, does that put them at risk with any future head knocks, although that could be why they aren't rushing them back? Dai does seem quite vague as to when they will be back.

It is probably the same scenario as George North was in for a while, he seems to be firing on all cylinders now after prolonged rest periods, better to take a little longer and be 100% sure than rush players back at 80% certainty. Fingers crossed.

I did think about George North as I was writing the post. There was a time a couple of years back where it was almost felt his career was over due to the constant issues but not seen mention of it for some time now.

I hope both are okay and can return soon when they get the all clear, I'd never want anyone to come back early as it isn't worth it, I guess we all get used to someone failing a HIA and then being back the following week, or missing 1 week at most, and being out for months is, thankfully, rare we just have 2 of them in the same situation.

[RBB]

I just pulled up George North's stats for the season, look at the Pro14 line, impressive and you would assume he is back to normal.

http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player-19797.html

[BG]

North took some seriously heavy blows to his head and wasn't right for at least a season. I remember him being sparko even before hitting the turf in a Wales game and the medics left him on.

I'm glad that things have changed to protect players from themselves