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Wallabies star's career hanging in the balance amid ongoing concussion concerns

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Dane Haylett-Petty’s playing future is in the balance after the Wallabies star suffered a major set-back in his recovery from ongoing concussion symptoms.

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The Melbourne Rebels captain made a comeback after six months out through Brisbane club rugby at the start of the month.

While he came through the game unscathed Haylett-Petty’s symptoms resumed when he returned to training last week to prepare for Melbourne’s opening Trans-Tasman Super Rugby clash with the Blues at AAMI Park on Saturday night.

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Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos speaks to media

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Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos speaks to media

“Last week he didn’t get through training,” Melbourne interim coach Kevin Foote told AAP.

“He was fine after the game, it was actually during training, and there was no knock or any contact or anything, it just sort of crept up on him and he’s having these constant headaches again.”

In the hands of a specialist and taking medication for the issue, the 31-year-old is now evaluating his future.

“He’s going through a process now which is going to decide his future and we won’t rush him,” said Foote, who took over from Dave Wessels who stepped down at the end of Super Rugby AU.

Haylett-Petty, who has played 38 tests, suffered a knock in a Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks on October 31 last year and missed the entire Super Rugby AU season.

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He was frustrated by migraines when he tried to run in the early weeks of his head injury although recovered enough to take the step into club rugby.

Off contract at the end of 2021, Haylett-Petty said last month that he would retire if that was the medical advice.

“If the specialist told me to retire, I’d back them and retire and they’ve said that’s not necessary at all,” Haylett-Petty said.

He said he was still motivated to play on, either in Australia or overseas with Japan or Europe options.

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“I still love pulling on that gold jersey. I’d love to get back in that Wallabies squad and fight for that position and play for the Wallabies again,” he said.

“I haven’t ruled out the possibility of going overseas as well.”

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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