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International

Posolo Tuilagi shares update from hospital bed after horrific injury

By Josh Raisey

82 days ago

Perpignan's French lock Posolo Tuilagi is evacuated on a stretcher after suffering an ankle injury during the French Top14 rugby union match between USA Perpignan and ASM Clermont Auvergne at the Aime-Giral stadium in Perpignan, south-western France, on September 28, 2024. (Photo by Valentine CHAPUIS / AFP)

France second-row Posolo Tuilagi has said that his operation “went well” after suffering a gruesome double leg break on Saturday.

The 20-year-old was stretchered off the Stade Aime Giral pitch after only 17 minutes of USA Perpignan’s 33-3 victory over ASM Clermont Auvergne on Saturday in the Top 14.

His club confirmed after the match that the five-cap international suffered a tibia-fibula fracture on his left leg, colloquially his shin.

Sam Cane after his 100th Test for the All Blacks and TJ Perenara after his last home game | All Blacks post-match

Just over 24 hours after the injury, Tuilagi shared an Instagram Story for his followers from a hospital bed, writing: “The operation went well thank you all for your messages and support.”

There has not yet been an update on how long the 149kg forward will be out for, but a long stretch on the sidelines is inevitable.

Posolo Tuilagi

The injury will rule Tuilagi out of France’s November internationals, which is a bitter end to his breakthrough year on the Test scene. Les Bleus host Japan, the All Blacks and Argentina in November.

Tuilagi’s absence will be a bigger blow for Perpignan though, who had not registered a Top 14 win this season until Saturday’s victory. The win leaves the Catalan outfit in eleventh place in the league, only one point ahead of bottom-place Vannes.

Fans were robbed of the much-anticipated showdown between the lock and his uncle, Bayonne’s Manu Tuilagi, in the opening round of the season due to a broken suffered by the England international. With Perpignan set to host Bayonne in January, it will be Posolo’s leg injury that will likely delay the Tuilagi Derby even further.

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Comments

2 Comments

GrandDisse 81 days ago

Hope he will recover fast, although not hasting his comeback to competition after such injury. Unfortunately that means he will probably be out for 6 nations as well.

JW 82 days ago

Damn, poor bloke. Hope he comes back to the Pacific to play the rest of his career out.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Hellhound 29 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

On this I agree with you. There were many great teams and many different eras of rugby with very different rule sets. It's actually impossible to declare one team or player as the best ever. However, this is definitely the best SA team SA has ever had. All the accolades speaks for itself.

129 Go to comments

Hellhound 32 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

All you can do is hate on SA. Jealousy makes you nasty and it's never a good look. Those who actually knows rugby is all talking about the depth and standards of the SA players. They don't wear blinders like you. The NH had many years to build the depth and players for multiple competition the SA teams didn't. There will be growing pains. Not least travel issues. The NH teams barely have to travel to play an opponent opposed to the SA teams. That is just one issue. There is many more issues, hence the "growing pains". The CC isn't yet a priority and this is what most people have a problem with. Saying SA is disrespecting that competition which isn't true. SA don't have the funds yet to go big and get the players needed for 3 competitions. It all costs a lot of money. It's over using players and get them injured or prioritising what they can deliver with what are available. To qualify for CC, they need to perform well in the URC, so that is where the main priorities is currently. In time that will change with sponsors coming in fast. They are at a distinct disadvantage currently compared to the rest. Be happy about that, because they already are the best international team. You would have hated it if they kept winning the club competitions like the URC and CC every year too. Don't be such a sourmouth loser. See the complete picture and judge accordingly. There is many factors you aren't even aware of at play that you completely ignore just to sound relevant. Instead of being an positive influence and spread the game and help it grow, we have to read nonsense like this from haters. Just grow up and stop hating on the game. Go watch soccer or something that loves people like you.

129 Go to comments

Barry 56 minutes ago

URC chief executive addresses potential Premiership merger

The RFU won't go for it especially now they've enhanced hybrid contracts and some control over their international players.

2 Go to comments

Barry 3 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

Exactly. They haven't learnt. Their regions and U20s are also whipping boys which is the bigger concern. Nothing coming through.

They maxed out the credit cards to keep their golden generation of players at home. It's now destroyed the game at every level in Wales.

10 Go to comments

Barry 3 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

Nor can the same coach turn it around. That's been proven across the last year. It will be years before they are even competitive again. It's a 5 year + job. No way Gatland will be around for that.

Italy's nadir was around ten years ago and even they were better equipped with their regions, U20s and senior squad and management. Wales have further to fall.

10 Go to comments

Barry 4 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

If they're happy at losing 12 on the bounce, get a regional coach who would be as bad but cost about a sixth in salary.

10 Go to comments

dw 4 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

I'm no expert but I've never seen nz or even aus as doing much for those nations? Both have benefited from their countries players playing for us! I see most of the top nations looking after themselves and maybe it's a world rugby issue?

129 Go to comments

richard davies 4 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

At 600k a year I would think there will be quite a Que. win lose or draw you can blame the small stature of the players and the WRU