Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Season is over for Jonny Hill; Sale also losing Manu Tuilagi battle

Jonny Hill reacts to last Sunday's injury with Sale (Photo by Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson has revealed Jonny Hill suffered a season-ending injury in last Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup defeat to La Rochelle. The out-of-favour England lock went down in the first half of the 37-24 loss which cost the Sharks their place in the round of 16.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It was bad, I said it was bad after the game. He has ruptured his patella tendon. It’s a five-monther. We won’t see him again this season,” Sanderson said at his Wednesday afternoon media briefing ahead of next Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership trip to Gloucester.

“He has had a scan and has got to wait two weeks for the swelling to go down before it gets operated on. I am gutted for him and gutted for us.”

Video Spacer

Richard Cockerill on the Georgian coaching opportunity

Video Spacer

Richard Cockerill on the Georgian coaching opportunity

Versatile back-rower Tom Ellis also broke his toe in the bruising encounter but Dan du Preez’s knock only turned out to be bruising to the hip. Manu Tuilagi (groin), meanwhile, is back up and running again but his days as a Sharks player appear to be numbered.

“Manu was running today [Wednesday] pitchside, so he will only be two to three weeks off now,” Sanderson confirmed.

Related

The Sale boss and Tuilagi have been in constant dialogue about the midfielder extending his stay in Salford but with the marquee player status having passed to George Ford, the Sharks are finding it hard to come up with a solution to keep him beyond the end of this season.

“We have talked about it and we are finding it difficult to fit him in the cap,” Sanderson admitted.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

3 Comments
N
Neale 301 days ago

Tuilagi’s been stealing a living for years. Incredible that people still keep stumping up huge money for very little tangible return.

M
Michael 301 days ago

Why would you keep Tuilagi when able to count on the fingers of one hand the games he is available for?

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

LONG READ
LONG READ Why Freddy Douglas has played for Scotland before Edinburgh Why Freddy Douglas has played for Scotland before Edinburgh
Search