Wood's injury could be career-threatening

Just read in an article that Tom Wood's toe injury could be career threatening, and his future remains in doubt.

Terrible news, because I didn't think it was this serious. Seriously hope that he makes a full recovery, and returns to his pre-injury form, because he was simply brilliant.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/9253382/Chris-Robshaw-to-retain-England-captaincy-for-South-Africa-tour-as-fears-grow-for-Tom-Woods-recovery.html

The next Tom Rees?

which toe is it?

God I really hope not stag, that would be terrible. Rees suffered on for a long long time, I just hope that Wood takes the whole summer to really fully recover. Apparently he's broken tiny little bones in his feet, and there are no previous cases so the Doctors don't know the best course of action.

It's been a terrible season for injury-forced retirements, and I just hope Wood doesn't join those departing the game.

HERSH wrote:which toe is it?

Considering we've both read the article, I imagine that we have the exact same chance of knowing that answer as each other.

Look how long Juan Smith has been out too. I hope they both recover over the summer and return next season. One is a brilliant 7 and the other one potentially brilliant.

Really hope he doesn't have to retire. Poor guy.

Does anyone know the exact injury he sustained? There are only very limited types of injuries to a toe which would be career ending in a sporting context.

You can play without a toe cant you!
On a serious note, I do hope that its not career ending. He is a real tallent and a big loss to England.

Has anyone heard news on Tom Crofts injury too? That seems more serious than first thought by Cockerill.

doctor_grey wrote:Does anyone know the exact injury he sustained? There are only very limited types of injuries to a toe which would be career ending in a sporting context.

Information is quite limited, but Wood explains a little in this article Doctor Grey http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2011-12/rugby/story/163715.html

propdavid_london wrote:You can play without a toe cant you!
On a serious note, I do hope that its not career ending. He is a real tallent and a big loss to England.

Has anyone heard news on Tom Crofts injury too? That seems more serious than first thought by Cockerill.

Croft's having surgery I believe, on two vertebrate is his neck. Summer off for him and he'll hopefully be ok.

Surgery on his neck - jeez. Fingers crossed that goes OK.
Were England to loose the likes of Croft and Wood it would be huge!

Very sad news. Wood is a young guy with great prospects.

Oh dear. Best of luck to him

Is this not typical, England find a very talented player like Wood. And now before is carrer as taken off (Internationaly) He may have to retire because of getting injuerd.

I do hope it is not that bad and he can come back next season.

majesticimperialman wrote:Is this not typical, England find a very talented player like Wood. And now before is carrer as taken off (Internationaly) He may have to retire because of getting injuerd.

I do hope it is not that bad and he can come back next season.

Yes it is typical.

Trevor Woodman and (effectively) James Simpson-Daniel are two other examples that spring to mind very quickly.

Perhaps we should make a XV of Fantastic England Players Cut down in their Prime?

p.s Approximately 50% of the bones in the human body are to be found in the feet.

BeachBoy2012 wrote:Look how long Juan Smith has been out too. I hope they both recover over the summer and return next season. One is a brilliant 7 and the other one potentially brilliant.

A 7 in south africa isn't the same as other 7s. They play their blindside in the 7 shirt, and their openside in the 6 shirt.

There is a lot of it about

bluestonevedder,
Thanks mate. The bones in the foot are generally quite small and are surprisingly fragile considering the abuse we put them through every day.

Wood told the Rugby Paper. "The problem is there aren't any case studies of this so they can't look at what worked well in the past. I split a couple of small bones in my foot. There a lots of options, I can rest and hope it heals, they can try to join the bones, they could take them out altogether and either re-attach the ligaments or leave it. But no one really knows what the best option is."

If he actually split the bones, then the rest period wouldn't be much help, just allows the inflamation to subside. Hope this is not as bad as it seems at first glance.

Injuries robbed us of quite a few useful players, let's see if we can put a side together.

Woodman
Thompson - still had a great career, but without the time out in between could have achieved even more
Hampson
Blaze
?
Wood
Rees
Forrester / Dan Ward Smith (both billed as the next big thing at various points throughout their careers)
Duncombe / Ellis
Wilkinson? Could argue it cost him 30 odd caps, which could be another 350 odd int points
JSD
Flutey/Farrell
Tait
?
?

Nick Dunscombe deserves a mention in the list. A real tragedy.

Maybe Olly Morgan as well. Not destined for greatness, but each and every time he hits compelling form he breaks down again.

Tait?

Did think Nick Dunscombe and Matt Hampton. Think Tait's is a good shout at 13 as well

Wood says he could play on with it as it is, so I think calling it career threatening is a bit premature. Plus there are plenty of options to try if the rest period doesn't work.

The problem for tom Wood is that it seems they are unsure what the exact problem is, and thus how to fix it.

LondonTiger wrote:The problem for tom Wood is that it seems they are unsure what the exact problem is, and thus how to fix it.

Thanks for clearing that up Tiger!

I thought he said they knew exactly what was wrong with him, but because it was an unusual injury there is no medical literature to show what is likely to be an effective treatment. Therefore if rest doesn't work they may have to experiement with different approaches if Wood wants to play pain free.

They know the outcome, but not how it was caused. So even if they "cure" the problem, there is real concern it will re-occur.

Well it obviously happened due to either a bang to the foot or due to a stress injury. I don't see how knowing either of these things was the cause would particularly help, as they are both well known hazards for athletes. The key is getting the injury to heal properly, or perhaps as Wood says just having the small bones in question removed entirely.

They thought it was healed. He played. It came back.

Yes. So now they are giving him more time, and if this doesn't work they'll try something else.