“Mark tweaked his knee in the first half on Saturday, it has subsequently swollen in the twenty-four hours following the game,” said Wales Team Physiotherapist, Mark Davies. “The knee is currently subject to treatment and further investigation. Dwayne’s injury is more clear cut with a sprain to his A/C joint (shoulder) ruling him out of contention this weekend. We will know more following a scan in the next few days, but the current feeling is that he will struggle to recover inside the next four weeks.”
Davies, who has worked as a physiotherapist with the National Squad since 1992 and who provided medical support to the British & Irish Lions in 1997 and 2001 remains unsurprised by the level of injuries sustained by the Wales National Squad this season.
“What we are seeing at the moment is by no means surprising, in fact, I would be more surprised if there wasn’t a steady inclination in the number and level of injuries we have at a national level,” said Davies. “Inevitably when you produce bigger, stronger and faster players, which rugby is doing year on year, the impact on the body will be greater and more injuries will follow. Ball in play time and the velocity of collision also add to the impact on players’ bodies.
“If you look at the boys who have picked up injuries for Wales many of them came through our Grand Slam winning season and straight on to a tough Lions tour and subsequently that workload has simply taken its toll.”
Wales can expect all of their long list of eleven injury victims to be back in international contention next season and Davies has offered his prognosis on their current status.
“Gareth Cooper will be out of rugby for around six months after a recent operation to repair his shoulder although Kevin Morgan’s return is less predictable, he is ten weeks down the road after foot surgery, he is also ruled out for at least six months,” said Davies. “Chris Horsman’s ankle was operated on in January and he should be back in time for a good pre-season before being ready to go in time for next season’s start.
“Tom Shanklin has resumed training and the early signs for his knee problem are promising. We will look to step up the intensity for Tom in the next couple of weeks with a view to him resuming full training with his region by April.
“Ceri Sweeney is back in full training with the squad after nursing a groin problem for the majority of the Championship and he joins Luke Charteris, who is now also fully fit but in need of game time after his shoulder injury.
“Ryan Jones is three and half months into rehabilitation after his shoulder repair and is progressing well. He is anticipating a full pre-season in order to be ready and available for his region in September.
“Brent Cockbain is progressing well four months after his hamstring repair and will resume running over the course of the next few weeks.
“Gareth Thomas’s problems have been well documented and he is currently upbeat about the prospects of a return this season, although he needs to be monitored over the course of time and take further advice as to when he can resume training.
“Other injury problems for us since the summer have been Gethin Jenkins, who has returned from shoulder surgery and Gavin Henson who his back after groin surgery. Both are fit to play and in contention as are Ian Evans and Dafydd Jones who were ruled out due to bans earlier in this year’s Championship.”
