The Gloucester and Wales number eight, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Pretoria during the second test of Wales’s tour of South Africa, is hoping to be back to his best and in with a chance of consideration for Warren Gatland’s national side set to defend their Eurpoean title next spring.
This six-month rehabilitation period is a frustrating setback for the 25 year old, who had been making a significant impact for Gloucester at Kingsholm last season, and was such an instant hit that he found himself playing for his country after only a few months with the Premiership league table winners.
The Cardiff-born, nine-times capped back row, who has had long-term knee and shoulder problems during his career, will miss the chance of tackling South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and Australia at the Millennium Stadium this November, but he is remaining positive and looking forward to being available for Wales in February when they take on England and Ireland in the magnificent home of Welsh rugby.
“I’m ok after the surgery. It’s very sore and it’s pretty tough to get around at the moment, but it’s one of those things. I’m very disappointed for it to happen in the last game of the season,” said Delve.
Getting back into Dean Ryan’s Gloucester set-up is also important to Delve, especially as the West Country side have been pooled with his home town region of the Cardiff Blues in the 2008-2009 Heineken Cup season.set-up next season is important to Delve.
“It’s really bad timing, having had a good season with Gloucester and breaking into the Wales side. It never seems to be a niggle with me, it always seems to be something major. This was my third knee op. But I know this is something I can get over and become an even better player.”
Delve, who insists he’s ‘not one for moping around and feeling sorry for myself,’ will be training as best he can during his rehabilitation, and sticking close to the Gloucester squad but he also wants to prepare for his life after rugby and sees his time away from the pitch as an ideal opportunity to get things rolling by looking to go through his coaching badge qualifications.
