Blues get a big Rush
Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:20
Cardiff Blues have been given a timely pre-season boost with the news that All Black Xavier Rush is set to return in time for the opening rounds of the Heineken Cup in October.
Rush injured his knee in pre-season training and the initial prognoses was that he could be out until the end of the year.
However, the Blues said on Monday that, having had surgery on his knee last Wednesday, Rush is hopeful of being back in action by the first two rounds of the Heineken Cup.
"The operation went well and better than expected, if I'm being honest," said Rush.
"They smoothed over some of the cartilage and cleaned out the knee. The surgeon, Rhys Williams, was very positive and I hope to be back earlier than expected - probably in late September or early October."
The Blues' opening Heineken Cup fixture is against Calvisano on October 11.
* Meanwhile the Blues confirmed that their intended pre-season friendly against Gloucester, scheduled for Friday, August 22, has been cancelled - due to the fact that the teams were drawn in the same Heineken Cup pool.
The Blues will now play a warm-up fixture against a combined Blues Regional Premiership side - made up of players from Cardiff, Pontypridd and Glamorgan Wanderers - on Thursday, August 14.
It will be the first match of the season for the Blues and also their first match under the new Experimental Law Variations (ELVs). The match will be played at Sardis Road.
