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Warren Whiteley's career may be over - reports

Whiteley in 2017

The career of former Springbok skipper Warren Whiteley may be over at 32 – according to reports.

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SA media outlets are reporting that Whiteley’s knee – which plagued him in 2019 – is set to rule him out of Super Rugby in 2020.

Whitely underwent knee surgery earlier this year. According to Netwerk 24, Lions Rugby Company Chairperson Altmann Allers told them that he was unlikely to play in next year’s southern hemisphere competition.

With Whitely having not played since May, many fear such a lengthy term on the sidelines could spell the end of the career for the former Springbok backrow.

His most recent injury problems started when he tore his pectoral muscle during the Lions 17-19 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town in February.

Whiteley returned to lead the Lions to a 23-17 victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton in April, but he then injured his knee and missed the 10-36 defeat against the Crusaders.

Whiteley made a return to the playing field once again when he led the Johannesburg based side to a 29-28 victory against the Waratahs in May.

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He did not manage to recover from the knee injury and the severe pain kept him out of the Lions next two games against the Highlanders and the Sharks. To make matters worse for Whiteley he also suffered a bout of kidney stones during the period.

The Rugby Pod gave their reaction to the news that Saracens will not appeal the 35 point deduction that they were given in light of breaching salary cap regulations.

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M
MA 3 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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