Monday Round-Up

Burgess setback: The fledgling rugby union career of Sam Burgess has already hit its first speedbump, before he has even pulled on the colours of new club Bath, let alone the white jersey of England. Playing in his final Rugby League match of his career, Burgess suffered a fracture cheekbone and looks set to spend the foreseeable future on the sidelines. Representing the Russell Crowe backed Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL Grand Final, Burgess was involved in a horrific clash with James Graham in the first minute of the match but heroically played on until the close of the game with the fracture to his cheekbone. Immediately after the game, Burgess revealed the joy and adrenaline were staving off the pain of the injury, but that he will likely undergo surgery to repait the damaged cheekbone over the course of the next 24 hours. The Rabbitohs team doctor said the cheek had been driven inwards but was unable to give an accurate timeframe on Burgess’ layoff.

Horror show for Kerr-Barlow: New Zealand scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow is facing a layoff period of between six and nine months, after suffering an horrific injury during Saturday’s enthralling Rugby Championship with the Springboks in Johannesburg. Having come on against the Boks midway through the second period, Kerr-Barlow went to put in a regulation box kick. However, a charge down meant he failed to connect with the ball and his leg looked to visibly buckle on the replay. According to head coach Steve Hansen, the Chiefs scrum half has torn the back of his hamstring off and has also torn his medial ligament. The likelihood is that Kerr-Barlow will require two operations to fully repair the damage incurred, although that fact is yet to be confirmed. Hansen also noted that Ben Smith would be absent from the Bledisloe Cup clash in two weeks, meaning either Charles Piutau or Cory Jane are likely starters on the wing.

Ryan Sheady