More tour casualties for Force
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:45
The Western Force has likely lost Caleb Brown for the remainder of their tour to the United Kingdom, after the newly-recruited wing pulled a hamstring during a team training session in Northampton on Wednesday.
Brown's injury, on the eve of the team's fourth tour match against Northampton Saints on Saturday, sees him join Scott Staniforth, Sam Wykes and James Dougall as early tour casualties.
Australian Under-20 lock Wykes was ordered to undergo surgery to repair damage to his left shoulder, which was dislocated during a training session last week. He left the tour last Saturday to return to Perth.
Western Force team doctor Mark De Cruz said Wykes could return to training within four months.
"Sam will undergo a reconstruction of his shoulder within the next seven to 10 days and faces a rehabilitation period of between four and six months," said De Cruz.
Staniforth was ordered to undergo a second arthroscope on his right knee after a visit to a knee specialist in Perth on Thursday.
The 91-match utility missed the final three rounds of the Super 14 season with knee cartilage damage and was forced home early from the UK tour after aggravating the injury in the team's opening victory over the Newcastle Falcons.
De Cruz said Staniforth would likely be available in October - when the Force will start pre-season training for the 23009 season.
"Scott will have a clean up on his knee but our initial assessment indicates that he should be fit to return to training when the squad returns for pre-season [October 6]."
Western Force Coach John Mitchell will confirm his lineup on Friday for Saturday's clash with newly-promoted Guinness Premiership side Northampton.
