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Reds captain Liam Wright dealt injury blow on eve of Super Rugby AU kick-off

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Queensland Reds captain Liam Wright will miss a significant portion of the Super Rugby AU competition with an ankle injury.

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Wright suffered the injury during last Friday’s trial match against the NSW Waratahs in Narrabri, which the Reds lost 45-33.

On Monday the Reds announced Wright is facing up to 10 weeks on the sidelines after scans revealed a syndesmosis to his left foot.

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Wright’s injury is potentially also a blow for his Wallabies’ hopes, with the 28-year-old likely to have limited opportunities to prove his fitness and form ahead of the July Tests against France.

The Reds will announce an interim on-field captain ahead of the Super Rugby AU season opener against the Waratahs on February 19.

Experienced Wallabies playmaker James O’Connor would be among the leading contenders to replace Wright as captain along with halfback Tate McDermott and forwards Harry Wilson and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.

The Reds will play an internal trial this week end ahead of the Super Rugby AU season start.

– By Ed Jackson in Gold Coast

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M
MA 2 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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