Glasgow Warriors' DTH Van der Merwe will miss most of 2011/12 season’s campaign due to shoulder injury
Firhill Stadium based, Scottish professional Rugby Union outfit, Glasgow Warriors, suffered a serious blow as their international utility backs player, DTH Van der Merwe, is expected to miss
most of their remaining games of the 2011/12 season after injuring his shoulder. Officials at the club have confirmed the sidelining of Van der Merwe for a considerable period in a statement released on their website on Saturday, October 29.
Van der Merwe was part of the Canadian national rugby union team in the recently concluded 2011 Rugby World Cup. Upon his joining the Warriors at the end of the Canada’s World Cup campaign,
he underwent a medical assessment.
The inspection was carried out by the Warriors’ medical team, which diagnosed a problem with his shoulder. Later they forwarded the internationals backs player for further tests to Specialists
who confirmed the injury and recommended surgery.
The Warriors’ team doctor, Gerry Haggerty, confirmed that Van der Merwe will undergo shoulder surgery. The rehabilitation is likely to take more than three months time.
Haggerty added, “At this stage, it's very difficult to put an estimate on the likely recovery time, but clearly we will continue to monitor DTH closely.” He further added, “DTH will have the
full support of the medical team at Scotstoun, and we look forward to assisting him in his recovery.”
Glasgow Warriors head coach, Sean Lineen has expressed his disappointment on losing his utility backs player. Van der Merwe possesses skills to play in multiple positions in backs. He has played
at centre, winger and fullback positions in his short career so far.
Lineen has conveyed his best wishes to the utility backs player. He said, “It’s obviously disappointing that a quality player like DTH requires surgery, and everyone at the club wishes him
all the best for the operation and his subsequent rehabilitation.”
Van der Merwe was born in Worcester, South Africa. He migrated to Canada and started his professional Rugby Union career with the Victoria based Canadian Rugby Club, James Bay Athletic Association
in 2005. He remained with James Bay until 2009.
In 2009, Van der Merwe joined Glasgow Warriors by signing a two-year deal with the club. He so far has made approximately 30 appearances for Warriors and has scored 65 points for them.
The 25-year-old Van der Merwe started his international career for Canada in 2006 against Barbados. He so far has made 21 international appearances for Canada and has scored 60 international
points. He has represented Canada in 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cup tournaments.
Warriors have not named Van der Merwe in their initial 38-man squad for their 2011/12 Heineken Cup campaign.
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