Scotland and London Irish centre Joe Ansbro has suffered a broken neck while playing in a pre-season match against Munster. This news follows that of fellow Scotland star backline player Stuart Hogg also being ruled out of rugby for a while, having undergone a foot operation.
It is never good to hear of injuries to rugby players, but one’s that affect the neck are particularly nasty blows that make one really feel concerned for the player. Here’s hoping Joe Ansbro has a steady proper recovery and gets back on his feet in due course.
Ansbro is a quality player and one of the most valuable backline players for Scotland, so his absence will be felt. However, playing rugby again at this stage should be at the back of his mind, unless it helps to motivate him through the tough painful periods of rehabilitation.
BBC Scotland
Ansbro, 26, is in hospital in Cork but is expected to be flown home later this week.
“He’s got a triple fracture of the C1 vertebrae at the top of his spine,” Ansbro’s father Paul told BBC Scotland.
“They’ve put a metal halo on his head that’s got to be in place 24/7 for three months.”
Ansbro Snr said there was “nothing malicious” about his son’s injury, adding that he dived into get the ball and came off worse.
“They did a CAT scan and an MRI scan, and they’ve had a neurosurgeon looking after him,” Ansbro Snr said.
“He was really lucky that it was what they call a stable fracture and there’s no nerve damage. That was the thing they were most concerned about; Joe’s still got movement in his hands and feet.”
Ansbro Snr said he was shocked at the news of his son’s injury.
“Your blood runs cold when you hear about it and it’s something that every parent worries about,” he added.
“It’s a fantastic, rough game and these things, unfortunately, cannot be ruled out.”
Centre Ansbro has scored three tries in his 11 Scotland matches, having made his debut against South Africa in the 2010 Autumn Test series.
Born in Glasgow, he joined London Irish last summer after beginning his club career at Northampton.
Scotland team doctor, James Robson, said: “The management of the injury Joe has sustained typically involves a period of between six to eight weeks immobilisation, then a further four-six weeks of rehabilitation before he can look at a return to the game.”