France second-row Posolo Tuilagi has said that his operation “went well” after suffering a gruesome double leg break on Saturday.
The 20-year-old was stretchered off the Stade Aime Giral pitch after only 17 minutes of USA Perpignan’s 33-3 victory over ASM Clermont Auvergne on Saturday in the Top 14.
His club confirmed after the match that the five-cap international suffered a tibia-fibula fracture on his left leg, colloquially his shin.
Sam Cane after his 100th Test for the All Blacks and TJ Perenara after his last home game | All Blacks post-match
Sam Cane after his 100th Test for the All Blacks and TJ Perenara after his last home game | All Blacks post-match
Just over 24 hours after the injury, Tuilagi shared an Instagram Story for his followers from a hospital bed, writing: “The operation went well thank you all for your messages and support.”
There has not yet been an update on how long the 149kg forward will be out for, but a long stretch on the sidelines is inevitable.
The injury will rule Tuilagi out of France’s November internationals, which is a bitter end to his breakthrough year on the Test scene. Les Bleus host Japan, the All Blacks and Argentina in November.
Tuilagi’s absence will be a bigger blow for Perpignan though, who had not registered a Top 14 win this season until Saturday’s victory. The win leaves the Catalan outfit in eleventh place in the league, only one point ahead of bottom-place Vannes.
