The Wales team travelled to Australia for their two Test tour minus a host of household names and Wales Squad Physiotherapist Mark Davies reports that those players have benefited from the non-contact time of recent weeks. Several players are en route to recover from recent operations and niggling injuries and Davies believes they will be ready to fight for selection for Wales’s three Tests in August and the subsequent Rugby World Cup.
Ospreys wing Shane Williams has undergone a minor operation this week to release a nerve in the back of his elbow, Davies said: “Shane is currently recuperating from a minor operation, but is due to return to training and a full pre-season conditioning programme in two to three weeks time.”
Llanelli Scarlets centre Gavin Evans will avoid surgery to repair his injured shoulder after showing rapid recovery and regional team mate Dafydd James has now had an operation to his knee. Dragons prop Rhys Thomas is recovering well from the damaged ankle ligaments that forced him to miss the tour. After sustaining the injury the Blues at the end of the season, Thomas has been wearing a specialist splinted boot to aid his recovery and has been making steady progress.
“Gavin will shortly resume full training, while Rhys will continue his rehabilitation for a couple of weeks before beginning a full conditioning programme,” Davies continued.
Ospreys hooker Huw Bennett also missed the tour after bruising his neck in the final Magners League match against Border Reivers and was pulled out of the summer tour following specialist advice.
“In Huw’s case it was felt he needed an extended period of non-contact recovery,” added Davies. “He is now on the road to full fitness, while Dafydd will also be able to return to full training within a couple of weeks.”
Long-term injury victims Ospreys lock Ian Evans and Blues prop John Yapp are making good progress and are both set to return to full training in recent weeks. Evans has almost completed his rehab following reconstructive shoulder surgery and Yapp is in the early stages of his rehab following a knee operation.
