Warren Gatland Suffers Multiple Fractures To Both Legs

[TRF_Cymro]

​

The Welsh Rugby Union has put plans in place for some senior squad preparatory coaching functions to be managed internally by Warren Gatland’s assistants as he recovers from an accident suffered during a family visit to New Zealand over Easter.
His return to Wales has been delayed as he recovers from leg injuries sustained in a fall while working at his family beach house on Waihi Beach at around 8.30am (New Zealand time) last Easter Monday morning.
He was cleaning windows when he lost his balance and fell three metres onto concrete taking the full impact on his heels. He suffered multiple fractures to the right calcaneus and also a fracture to the left calcaneus. Consequently, he is in leg casts and requires surgery by the leading orthopaedic surgeon in the Waikato to reconstruct his right heel.
The injury he suffered is not expected to have any major impact on the continuing preparations for scheduled Wales matches in June 2012.
While in New Zealand Gatland will continue to receive information primarily from Rob Howley, Robin McBryde, Shaun Edwards and Neil Jenkins as they observe and monitor squad players and potential players over the next few weeks.
Further information gathered by the Head of Physical Performance, Adam Beard, Head of Performance Analysis, Rhys Long and National Medical Performance Manager, Prav Mathema, will also be sent directly to Gatland.
Assistant Coach Rob Howley will oversee day-to-day management of the coaching staff in Wales and will play a key role in liaising between the Wales based staff and the Head Coach during Gatland’s temporary absence from camp. Team Manager Alan Phillips will keep the Head Coach informed of all other squad preparation issues.
The WRU Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis, has approved the plan for temporary injury cover and he has indicated that although there is no current requirement for any of the staff to be appointed caretaker Head Coach he and Gatland have agreed to recommend to the WRU Board that Howley would fill the role if required.
Although it could be several weeks before he fully recovers he is expected to be able to return to active coaching duties before his recuperation is complete.
Roger Lewis said: “We all wish Warren a speedy recovery from the injuries he has suffered in this extremely unfortunate accident.
“Knowing Warren as I do I can reassure the Welsh rugby public that he has diligently put the people and processes in place to ensure he stays closely linked to what is happening in the game back here in Wales.
â€I have spoken to Warren on a number of occasions since his fall and have told him he will lead the tour to Australia unless anything unforeseen happens in the prognosis for recovery we are working to.â€

WRU Media

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Argh, that sounds horrendous.
My friends Dad did something similar hopping a fence and shattered his heel - took him ages before he could even work properly again.

 

[Conal]

ouch sounds nasty
well at least he wasnt still playing them game

 

[Feicarsinn]

Wish him a speedy recovery. Sounds nasty.

 

[SelimNiai]

That sounds incredibly painful. All the best for a speedy recovery.

 

[Peat]

Poor sod. Hope he recovers quickly and fully.

 

[irelandfan123]

That sounds horrific hope he recovers so he can run after the lions :L

 

[Saintjay]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17697678 Seems like Mrs Gatland thinks he might not be well for the summer tour. I hope he is and that he is on the mend and wish him all the best. It did remind my of the reaction the Mrs has when I mention the words rugby tour and it seems even he can't escape the house work.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

For me if Gatland is the new Lions coach it will show how good the setup is without him, early test for Howley, Edwards and McBryde. I suspect Gatland is what makes Wales tick, so its a massive blow. I can't see him making the trip to Australia to be honest.

I do however like how the misses has said, sorry Warren I'm wearing the trousers on this decision :lol:

 

[Robert Prosser]

Horrible injuries to get no walking stuck in a chair must be horrendous

 

[GarethEWilliams]

Gatland Out of Summer Tests

So Howley it is then?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/wales/17771207

What do people think of his coaching? I will be interested to see how him and Shaun Edwards get on together without Gatland, will Shaun be ok taking orders from this man?

 

[Me 1]

If Gatland isn't ready to coach he needs to take time out, all the best to him. However, surely Edwards would have been the best candidate, I doubt he will like playing second fiddle again after all this time, and to lose out(imo) to an inferior coach. Hope I'm wrong though.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Could be a case of Edwards not wanting to be head coach? When he was made head coach of Wasps he was pretty poor at it.
Might just be happy sticking as defence.

 

[dullonien]

There will be no falling out. This might be a sign about what will happen if Gats get's the Lions job. Shaun Edwards is a certainty to go, whereas maybe Howley will stay behind to coach Wales. I can't see any more than two of the Welsh coaches going, because Gatland won't want to disrupt Wales too much while they're gone.

I'm going to be interested to see how Howley get's on. If he does well this Summer and during the Lions, then I could very well see him being the next head coach when Gatland leaves, and that could be a very good thing, because it would be a continuation of same regime, with similar conditions within camp (i.e. hard working, honest and hopefully successful).

Gatland also showing Wales how to develop proper coaches now as well? Regions should take note, because chucking coaches into the deep end without a chance from learning from an experienced mentor very rarely works. However having a number of coaches working under an experienced head coach helps develop a number of quality coaches, because it seems that it's not just Howley who's developed under Gatland, but Neil Jenkins and McBryde as well. All of us complaining about McBryde seems so long ago, oh how things change. He's not the finished article (our lineout probably shows that there's improvements to be made), but overall I'm very happy with all the coaches involved with Wales.

 

[SelimNiai]

So Howley it is then?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/wales/17771207

What do people think of his coaching? I will be interested to see how him and Shaun Edwards get on together without Gatland, will Shaun be ok taking orders from this man?

I don't expect they are going out there with no input from Gatland. Also I would imaging Gats will be in heavy contact with the coaching team during the tour. He'll have the perspective of watching it on tv and will surely pass all that on to Howley, Edwards et al.