Gareth Anscombe and Willis Halaholo will both miss Wales’ rugby union tour of New Zealand after both players were ruled out with ACL injuries.
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has ruled Gareth Anscombe and Willis Halaholo out of next year’s tour to New Zealand because of their long-standing knee injuries.
New Zealand-born flyhalf Anscombe missed the World Cup in Japan after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in a warm-up match against England in August.
Welsh club Ospreys said on Saturday that Anscombe has been forced to undergo a second operation, and Pivac is not considering him to face the All Blacks.
“Gareth’s working his way back from an ACL injury, which has had its problems in the healing process,” Pivac, who has taken over the Wales job from fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland, told
1 News in New Zealand.
“He’s looking like he’ll miss the New Zealand tour. The main thing is that he gets that knee right and gets back to 100 per cent.”
Halaholo, also New Zealand-born, qualified to play for Wales this year through residency rules but suffered a season-ending knee injury before he could play against the Barbarians last month.
Pivac said Halaholo has “ruptured his ACL” and will also miss the rest of the season.
Wales will begin their test series against the All Blacks in Auckland on July 4, before the second test in Wellington seven days later.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah all good but they now need to open test rugby up to let anyone play for any country they qualify for if thats the same with club rugby and if test coaxches can ‘jump the fence’ all over the place. Piutau for instance is a better outside back that 90% of those at the tournament so if the premiere showcase for the sport wants to put on show its best, hunderds of players shouldnt be hidden away in club rugby. Chances are all the PI players playing in club rugby would prefer to play for their Island of heritage. Far stronger sides would be present, far better players and a much tighter competition would result, with higher quality rugby being played. We saw it with Tonga in League and in these days of ‘allegiance to one country’ now beyond a joke, test rules should be relaxed similarly. Its ridiculous allowing clubs, coaches to play anywhere and everywhere. Can’t make one country, play for the next one. Dont want to play for one country, play for whoever you qualify for based on residence or heritage.
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
Welcome to modern rugby!
taylorman
Roar Guru
yeah…funny that. :laughing: That was Gatlands single biggest lament. Another ‘grow your own’ story…a NZ coach lamenting about a NZ player…for Wales…hmmmm…
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
A real shame to read of Anscombe requiring a second knee operation. He's a fine player who was a big reason Wales won the Six Nations and even with Biggar present, Wales missed Anscombe in Japan.