Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Noah Lolesio has been cleared of a spinal fracture after a suffering a scary neck injury that saw him stretchered off the field and taken to Royal Perth Hospital on Saturday night.
Lolesio was taken from the field a neck brace after getting caught awkwardly in a ruck in the first half of the Brumbies’ 33-14 win over the Western Force at HBF Park. Attempting to clean out over fullback Tom Wright, Lolesio was pushed backwards by several Force players, and the full weight of halfback Henry Robertson landed on the back of Lolesio’s neck, with his chin pinned dangerously down on his chest.
In clear pain, the Wallabies no.10 was treated on field before being taken off amid concern he may have suffered a fracture in his spine.
“He’s in the hospital at the moment, about to go in for scans. He’s got feeling, he’s got movement, it all looks very positive,” Larkham said post-game. “But obviously it was a very nasty injury.”
Fortunately, scans showed no fractures, the Brumbies confirmed on Sunday morning. After speaking to his relieved partner and family, Lolesio left hospital and returned to team hotel in the early hours on Sunday morning. If cleared, the 25-year-old will fly back to Canberra with the Brumbies squad on Sunday afternoon.
Noah Lolesio of the Brumbies is stretchered from the field.Credit: Getty Images
The early diagnosis is that Lolesio suffered painful ligament damage in his back but it is not known how long that will keep him out of action. There are three weeks remaining in Super Rugby’s regular season before the finals begin, and the first Test against the British and Irish Lions is 69 days away.
“Noah was transported to the Royal Perth Hospital for further assessment and underwent medical imaging,” the Brumbies said in a statement.
“We are pleased to report that scans have cleared him of any serious injury. Noah is in good spirits and will continue to be monitored by the club’s medical team over the coming days. A timeline for his return to play will be determined based on ongoing assessment and symptom resolution.
“We thank the medical staff, match officials, and supporters for their concern and well wishes.”
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, who was in Newcastle watching the Wallaroos on Saturday, was among the concerned viewers watching on. While Lolesio’s wellbeing will have been Schmidt’s main focus, the Brumbies playmaker will also feature heavily in his plans for the upcoming Lions series.
Lolesio started in nine Tests last year and, if fit, would still be the man most likely to wear the Wallabies no.10 in the first Test against the Lions in Brisbane on July 19.
He has come under pressure from the strong form of Reds no.10 Tom Lynagh this season but Lolesio’s form has also been solid, and given the high stakes of a Lions series, Lolesio’s experience a 32-Test playmaker is a trump card over the young contender.
The Brumbies star also recently signed to play in Japan next year but Schmidt has indicated he will not put a line through departing players when it comes to selecting a squad to win the Lions series.
The nasty injury came just a day after fellow Wallaby Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was also stretchered off with a head knock in the Waratahs’ loss to the Reds in Sydney.
More to come
