Wallabies' Israel Folau has surgery, out for three months
ByReuters
Updated 12/11/2015 at 08:02 GMT
Wallabies fullback Israel Folau requires surgery on the ankle he injured at the Rugby World Cup and will be sidelined for at least three months, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said on Thursday.
Australia's Israel Folau in action against Argentina
Image credit: Reuters
The former rugby league international sustained the injury during the pool stage of the tournament but played through the pain in the semi-final against Argentina and the final, which Australia lost to New Zealand.
Folau is likely to miss the start of the Super Rugby season for the New South Wales Waratahs, who kick off their first campaign under Michael Cheika's replacement Daryl Gibson against the Queensland Reds on Feb. 27.
The 26-year-old has been almost an ever-present in the Australia side since scoring two tries on debut against the British and Irish Lions in 2013.
But... he's staying in Union
Folau rated the Rugby World Cup as the highlight of his varied career and has reiterated that he will be staying in the 15-man code for at least another three years.
Folau, a former rugby league international, was not on top form in the latter rounds of the tournament because of an ankle injury but said the overall experience had been outstanding.
"Being part of a World Cup on an international level, it doesn't get any higher than that, so for me it's got to be at the top of my list," Folau told reporters at Sydney airport when the side returned home at the beginning of this month.
The 26-year-old's path to union from league via two years in Australian Rules football means he is regularly the subject of local media speculation about his future and the last week has been no exception.
"For me, these reports have been a bit frustrating because I've only just signed a three-year contract extension with ... the Australian Rugby Union, and that deal hasn't even started yet," he wrote in a column on the Fox Sports website.
"For the record, I'll be here giving my all until the end of 2018 at the very least, and I couldn't be happier."
Coach Michael Cheika, who was among the group of players and staff welcomed with cheers and applause in Sydney, said his drive for continual improvement in Australian rugby would go on.
New Zealand, the first team to win back-to-back World Cups, were the benchmark against which other countries must measure themselves and Cheika said it would be foolish to expect them to get weaker even with the loss of several experienced players.
"Our goal is to improve, not to be waiting for other teams to go worse because of this or that reason," he said.
"They've got so much depth over there. I think they will only improve as well."
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