Waratahs’ winger Drew Mitchell not fully recovered - Rugby update
Waratahs suffered a huge blow in their Super Rugby championship campaign as their star winger Drew Mitchell will not take part in the remaining games of the season. Mitchell dislocated his ankle during the round 10 encounter of super xv against the Reds
at Suncorp Stadium on April 23.
Mitchell was forced off the field during the 18th minute of the clash which Reds won 19 – 15. Mitchell dislocated his ankle after he fell down on the ground dangerously, leaving Waratahs comfortably placed in the match as Daniel Halangahu substituted
for Drew Mitchell.
Waratahs are currently place at the 6th position in the super xv with 40 points and have won seven of the eleven games they have played in the season so far.
27-year-old winger confirmed today that his recovery would take another two to three months and he will not risk the injury with a premature return and rubbished any early return reports. Earlier, the Balmain based rugby club confirmed in a press release
that Mitchell will play a game on August 13.
He further added that mentally he is very concerned about the nature of the injury. He said, “Apart from the physical nature of the injury, there's also mental hurdles you have to clear that come with seeing your foot distorted like that. So I'll play when
I'm physically and mentally ready.”
Queensland born winger was optimistic to achieve his full fitness until August and will be available for Australia to take part in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. International Rugby Board has announced August 22, as the last date for the submission of World Cup
squads.
Mitchell burst on to the world scene during the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France where he scored seven tries in the tournament.
The St Patrick’s College product made his professional senior rugby debut in 2004 where he signed a two-year contract with the Reds. He made 35 appearances for Reds and in 2005 and he won Australia’s Rookie of the Year award.
Later in 2005, he made his international debut for Wallaby’s against South Africa but fail to make an immediate impression at the international level. In 2007, he joined Western Force and remained there for three seasons. He left Force to join Waratahs in
2010.
Mitchell so far has played 55 international games for Wallabies and is a regular part of the national team for the past four years.
Earlier, Mitchell termed the injury as the worst in his career and he has clarified that he will play the August 13 game for Balmain only when if he is fully fit.
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