Rees 'gutted' at injury blow

Wasps and England ace facing eight weeks on the sidelines

Last updated: 6th January 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Rees 'gutted' at injury blow

Rees: Sidelined

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Flanker Tom Rees looks set to miss the majority of England's RBS Six Nations campaign after tearing a medial ligament in his knee.

The Wasps ace suffered the injury against Harlequins on Sunday and could now face up to eight weeks on the sidelines.

That would rule him out of England's first three matches of the Six Nations - and leave him with a race against time to make the British and Irish Lions squad.

Rees, who impressed during the autumn internationals, told the Daily Telegraph: "I've been here before with this type of injury so I know the score.

"It's the same thing all over again. My knee got forced inwards and I felt a little pop. I'm looking at six to eight weeks. It's a sickener."

The injury is a blow to Wasps as well, who had just begun to turn their season around in the league and Europe.

And with Leinster set to arrive at Twickenham for a make-or-break Heineken Cup clash, Rees is disappointed to miss out.

"It is gutting given that we've got a big few weeks coming up," Rees said.

"I'll just have to get on with things."

Comments (13)

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Pete Mcmillan says...

Yes it is a shame about Rees, but in Moody we have a ready made replacment. I would move Croft into the second row with Kennedy, then have Haskell at 6, Moody at 7 and Easter at 8 with Lipman on the bench

Posted 13:10 9th January 2009

Andrew Garbutt says...

i would have to say that the best number 7 in wearing a tigers shirt and that would have to be a mr lewis moody,rees disapears in games and when the presure gets to him he hides away.

Posted 05:12 8th January 2009

Oliver Nowlan says...

it is a big shame and a big loss to both wasps and england. Will Smith I dont know where you are coming from with your comment about Tom being past his best. In the past 6 months Rees has been one of the only players to show consistancy in the England shirt with some pretty decent performances against richie mccaw in the summer and autumn when other players were found wanting. hopefully he will be back fully fit and in contention for the lions tour.

Posted 23:04 7th January 2009

Mark Towers says...

Gutted, gutted for Tom, gutted for wasps, gutted for England. Saw it from about 5 metres away it looked bad and I could tell from his face he knew something had gone. I was hoping it was just one of those knocks that fool you. It was a real shame he had been on the picth less than 2mins but had already made an impact on the game pusing back quins and along with walder suddenly creating some attacking momentum. Ending a period that had been all Quins. Still he should be back for the push to the final and victory at twickers, leaving it a little later this year, adds a little suspense to the obvious eventual outcome....... fingers crossed!

Posted 15:14 7th January 2009

Tom Clark says...

It will be a very sad six nations without reesy in the back row however I beleive that this is one area where we can 'afford' injuries as such looking at the talent and prospects we have throughout England we have experience and class in Nick Easter Micheal Lipman Lewis Moody and we have a lot of wealth amoung class young guns such as Haskell Armitage Croft Crane Skinner etc it will be intresting to see who Johnson picks but personally i'd go for Croft Armitage and Haskell at 8 at the moment with either moody or lipman on the bench

Posted 11:52 7th January 2009

Stephen Heasley says...

that last comment is complete idiocy, tom rees is 24, "past the pinnacle of his years"? he is one of few players that has looked good in an england shirt recently and his absence will be a massive loss

Posted 22:35 6th January 2009

Adam Cox says...

I don't know what planet Will Smith has been hiding on, but Tom Rees is by far the best openside flanker this country has seen since Neil Back, and as a Wasps fan, I don't mind admitting that Backy was by far the best 7 we've ever had! As for past the pinaccle of his years, unless I'm mistaken, he's only 23/24 so is by far past the pinaccle of what is sure to be a glistening career for both club and country. I suggest, Will take a good hard look around the country and sees if he can find a better 7, because no-one else can!! Otherwise, I do feel sorry for Tom, making a very impressive autumn series for himself even in the face of some heavy and humiliating losses, he put the hard work in and now has to miss out on the best international tournament bar the world cup. Hope you have a speedy recovery Tom.

Posted 21:33 6th January 2009

Olly Oldcorn says...

savage blow for england and wasps. rees is not past his best hes only 23 and hes a player that does all the work that gets unnoticed getting turnover ball to force a truy and gets no credit. we have much more to ser from tommy

Posted 21:18 6th January 2009

Dan Knott says...

To Bens comment on the England back-row, thats a no go. Tom Croft is the best young English flanker in year and has to be given a run of games. Personally i'd go for Haskell, Croft and Moody.

Posted 20:36 6th January 2009

Chris Livemore says...

Gutted for Rees, am sure he is an England captain in the making and this injury could see him miss the Lions tour, which he would have been brilliant in. I'm not sure if any English players will excel in his absence, hopefully it will be a case of bringing Moody back into the set up, Haskell moving to 8 and then a real fight for the no6 shirt between Croft and Robshaw. Also, just to point out isnt the game against Leinster at Twickers? Just got my ticket and pretty sure travel plans are in place to go watch the game at HQ!

Posted 19:05 6th January 2009

Ste Paisley says...

Ben Stack, I cant agree with you on the replacement front. everyone has been sucked into this Armitage world because he is a big powerful lad. The england set up are obbsessed with power. what we need is some one like Will Skinner. His positional play and reading of the game is sensational, and he does the job of a number 7 down to a T. leave the hits for the other big guys. H ie also captain ofthe brightest young team in the prem at the age of 24. leadership is something England needs immensly!

Posted 19:03 6th January 2009

Will Smith says...

I think that Tom Rees is past the pinnacle of his years, and has no talent. His best playing days are other, so I think it is a blessing in disguise for Wasps, as now without Rees, they may finally win.

Posted 18:53 6th January 2009

Ben Stack says...

im gutted for tom even though he did not have the greatest of autumn internationals or found his top form he is still one of the best flankers we have so to lose him for the six nations is a big blow and a huge dent for wasps. so on to the replacement and i really hope johnson goes for steffon armatige, he is the form flanker in the leauge by a long way, quick, strong and in your face, have moody as back up, and start with haskell, narraway and armatige.

Posted 10:03 6th January 2009
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