No this is not an old article…Sport24
The Western Force’s Super 14 aspirations took a massive nose dive on Friday after it was confirmed star recruit Andre Pretorius will miss the entire tournament with a hamstring injury.
According to the ninemsn website, Pretorius, who played 31 Tests for South Africa but was lured to the Force as a replacement for flyhalf Matt Giteau, suffered a season-ending hamstring injury at training on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old only signed a one-year deal with the Force, meaning he may never play a Super 14 game for the Perth-based franchise.
“I’ve gone to work with the boys for so long now and it has been my best pre-season in many years,” Pretorius said in a statement.
“I’m really disappointed that I won’t be able to have the opportunity to represent the Western Force and play rugby with the new mates that I have made here.
“My body was in the best condition it has been in a long time and after watching the video footage of the training session and seeing when the injury occurred it didn’t look like much at all.
“The physios at the club said it was just a freakish type of injury.
“I guess the only good thing from a personal point of view is that the Force has the best hamstring rehab program that I have ever worked with.
“It’s a bitter pill to swallow after putting in all the hard yards and committing myself to a great bunch of guys at the club.
“I still want to remain involved and offer any assistance I can to help make this a successful season for the Force.”
The Force are in talks with the ARU to see if they can replace Pretorius, who was the Force’s marquee international player.
Clubs are only allowed to sign one international marquee player but the Force may ask for a special allowance given Pretorius won’t be able to play at all.
“It is really unlucky for Andre, I feel gutted for him,” coach John Mitchell said.
“From a playing perspective we now have to look at what we’ve got and move forward without him, that’s just part of rugby.”
One-Test Wallaby Mark Bartholomuesz is likely to take up the vital No 10 jersey in place of Pretorius while the Force explore their options.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
hy is en bly maar net te klein vir S14 en toets rugby
February 5th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
het hy nie al sy poepolspier OOk lAAt sEErkry nie?
February 5th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Force cant be happy with this buym but thats what contracts are for, talented but too injury-prone was pretors, thats now gotta be it for him.
February 5th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
The guy has spent a lot of time in his career sidelined because of injury, was a risky buy in the first place.
February 5th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Can’t help but feel for
the guy.
Surely this is the end
of the road?
February 5th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Reply to cab @ 1:04 pm:
Reply to Ollie @ 1:10 pm:
Surely – when you do a thorough feasibility study regarding the pro’s and con’s of possible player
and you realise he has spent most of his rugby career in rehab
you factor that into the contract???
February 5th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Reply to The Brand @ 1:44 pm:
I have no idea how the intricaties of the rugby contracting system works, but surely the players will have a way of covering themselves in case of injury
February 5th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Ja I woder where Morne is now with his big Pretrius was the best flyhalf by far theory…
Lions sicknote is Force sicknote,,,, I’m amazed he lasetd this long….
Reply to Boertjie @ 1:43 pm:
Moet wees and no
I recall at a Vroteas vs Sri Lanka game seeing him and some mates…. him on crutches and stukkend dronk messing around with his pals… at the time he was supposedly in rehab…. was earning a Lions salary and Cats salary and Boks salary and standing on a leg that should have been rested…
I have little sympathy for him…
February 5th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
What a pity, would have loved to see Petoors fit and playing good rugby. Will never forget that final kick against AB, was it Rustenburg?
February 5th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Reply to Ollie @ 1:47 pm:
Ja they have specialist insurance…. those Marriott guys that sponsor the refs are the main sponsor for the players…
I understand that they insure up to 24 months salary for the club and then the player has his own “own profession” disability insurance cover…
But Pretrius is an Alberton brood
February 5th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Reply to Vloye @ 1:48 pm: That kick saved Jake White’s career…
February 5th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
yip, but it did not saved the beer in the fridge
February 5th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 1:49 pm:
Cool, so he has no problems financially then
February 5th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 1:49 pm:
But Pretrius is an Alberton brood
========
Hy speel darem nie met
‘n kam in sy kous nie?
February 5th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Shame, dis nou vir jou ‘n
e.
Nogal uitgesien daarna om hom vir ‘n ander span te sien speel.
…Julle seker dis nie ‘n April fools joke nie??!!??
February 5th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Reply to Namboer @ 3:57 pm:
it is only Feb mate!
February 5th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Reply to JT @ 4:09 pm:
Near enough for me…must be ninemsn’s feeble attempt at ‘getting the news fresh’!
February 5th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Pas gehoor:
Ou Jacob Regop is die nuwe
lead singer
van Die Naaimasjiene.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Fragile.
Cause he so tiny.