Injuries are a part of professional sport, but some are more unlucky than others in terms of the number of bumps they pick up — as Ross Moriarty will doubtless testify.
The relentlessly physical Dragons forward recently underwent his fourth operation in two seasons. The 54-cap back rower is one of eight players Wales have officially flagged up as being off limits for their summer tour of South Africa.
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Of those, four are British and Irish Lions. We look at the stories of those concerned and when they might be available again.
Ken Owens
The Scarlets hooker hasn’t been seen on a rugby pitch since the United Rugby Championship clash against Leinster in Dublin in October. A prolapsed disc in his back has since required surgery to correct.
But Owens is on the mend and this week confessed to feeling in a good place while declining to flag up a date for his return.
It will probably be early next season. Fingers crossed.
Justin Tipuric
It’s coming up to 12 months since the flanker shattered his scapula playing for the Lions against Japan in a tour warm-up at Murrayfield. Ospreys coach Toby Booth later said there had never been an injury seen like it in rugby before. You can read more of what Booth said here.
Initially, there was hope in the Lions camp the bump might just prove a stinger. Then, it was hoped Tipuric might be back around the festive period.
But there was to be double disappointment for the openside. He’s undergone two operations over the year and appears to be targeting a prompt return in 2022-23.
Ross Moriarty
So unlucky, he must feel like the man who bought a new house only to discover two days later that permission had just been granted for a motorway to run through his back garden.
Moriarty sustained nerve damage around the knee area playing for the Dragons against the Sharks on April 1. As with Tipuric, there was initially some optimism he might not be out for long.
But he has since undergone surgery on the problem with the backrower sharing a photo on social media of himself in a hospital bed with his damaged leg bandaged up.
He said: "Op four in two seasons, I know my luck will change, every sportsperson has a spell of bad luck, but I will be ready for next season.”
Moriarty deserves a change of fortune.
Chris Tshiunza
He’s been off limits this year after picking up a bout of Covid and then injuring a hamstring.
After so long out, he’s been diverted to the Wales U20 squad for the Summer Series in Italy rather than head to South Africa for a potentially gruelling tour with the senior set-up.
The move makes sense, with no doctor likely to recommend three Tests against the Springboks as ideal for someone coming back from a nasty bump.
Aaron Wainwright
"Waino will be out for eight to 10 weeks and that looks like it will involve him missing the summer with a stress fracture on his heel,” announced Dragons team boss Dean Ryan in early May.
Wainwright was indeed deemed unavailable for the series with the Springboks. But the time frame outlined by Ryan means he should be fit for early season.
Willis Halaholo
“Just can’t catch a break,” posted Halaholo on social media after the news in April that he’d be out for up to 12 weeks.
It’s a hamstring injury that’s the problem this time. He’ll hope the problem clears up in time for him to join Cardiff's pre-season training.
Johnny McNicholl
Had banged in two excellent displays for the Scarlets against Cardiff but injured a knee in the second of those games.
Wyn Jones seemed to have picked up the more major bump after being hurt in the same match. But McNicholl has been declared beyond Wayne Pivac’s reach for Wales’ South Africa adventure.
Details are sketchy as to when he’ll return. All we have to go on is a quote from Dwayne Peel at the end of April telling us: “He’ll be out for a while.”
Leigh Halfpenny
Sustained a horror knee injury on what should have been a red-letter day for him as he made his hundredth Test appearance.
It all went wrong with Halfpenny hurt in the first minute of Wales' game with Canada 11 months ago. No time scale has been given for his return.
Halfpenny filled in time by helping Byron Hayward with some coaching of Welsh youngsters during the U20 Six Nations this year. “His delivery has been really clear with the boys and his commitment is fantastic,” said Hayward at the time.
“He’s the ultimate professional and that’s another reason why we wanted him in here. I remember at the Scarlets, he was the first one in there and the last one out of the building by about three hours. I think the cleaners want to go home before he goes home.
“He was like it every day and he’s the same now, even at the latter part of his career. That professionalism can only make our boys realise how much work it takes to get to where he is and do what he’s done.”
Indeed. Halfpenny still needs four more caps to achieve his century with Wales.
But his first goal is to just get back on the field. Everyone in Welsh rugby will surely wish him well.
