Vuna injured in Rebels Super Rugby trial

Wallabies winger Cooper Vuna’s shoulder troubles continue after he suffered a suspected fracture in the Melbourne Rebels’ trial loss to the NSW Waratahs.

Vuna left North Hobart Oval in the 18th minute of the 24-16 defeat clutching his right shoulder.

The injury was initially thought to be a “stinger” but a suspected break in the right shoulder blade will be investigated, a Rebels official said.

The former Newcastle Knights rugby league back had his breakthrough season as a Wallaby cut short when he dislocated his left shoulder playing club rugby last year and underwent surgery.

Rebels assistant coach John Muggleton said the two doctors travelling with the side would assess Vuna before deciding whether he would have x-rays in Hobart on Saturday night.

“It’s a bit of a funny one,” Muggleton said.

“We’re not sure what’s wrong.

“He’s sore behind the shoulder in the scapula area so obviously we’ll just wait and see how it settles down and the doctors will make a decision on that.”

In better news for the Rebels, flyhalf James O’Connor made it through unscathed after an injury-plagued 2012.

He is set to join fellow Wallabies star Kurtley Beale in the Rebels side to take on the Hurricanes in Geelong next weekend.

“The last three or four times he’s played he’s been injured so for him to get through that … was good for his mental approach,” Muggleton said of O’Connor.

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