Injured against Oyonnax, and absent against Colomiers, the Fijian opener Ben Volavola will undergo, at the start of the week, cervical surgery. He will be absent for 10 weeks.
The new year could not have started any worse for the USAP and its player. The leader of Pro D2 has just learned that he will have to compose at least ten weeks without his opening half Ben Volavola. Victim of a blow to the head on December 18 against Oyonnax in a shock in the second half which required the intervention of the trainers but did not prevent the Fijian international to get up and finish the match, Volavola then took exams. Which were not reassuring to the point that the player skipped the match at Colomiers four days later.
Absent “ten weeks”
Additional examinations carried out in recent days have shown that surgery is necessary. It will take place at the beginning of the week, not in Perpignan, according to our information. Joined this Saturday, January 2, Christian Lanta confirmed the injury of Volavola and his unavailability of “ten weeks”. Regarding the nature of his trauma, the general manager of USAP was more discreet. “It is a matter of medical confidentiality … He has a joint problem in the cervical area and it requires a small operation. He is in the best hands for this kind of operation “.
A joker in sight?
Ben Volavola’s injury comes a good month after that of the other opener, Matteo Rodor, victim of a cruciate ligament rupture in his left knee. If the season is over for Rodor, it should resume in mid-March for Volavola who would therefore miss ten matches (see box opposite). Is the USAP then considering recruiting a medical joker? “We do not know yet. Nothing is excluded because the stakes are high “, Lanta whispers, reminding us that there is still, for this position of opening half, “Thibauld Suchier and Quentin Etienne (Editor’s note: but also the rear Melvin Jaminet who can help out in 10). VSit’s up to them to seize the opportunity and show themselves at a very good level“.
A number 10 on which seems to hover a certain curse. You just have to look back in the archives to remember that at this position of opening half, many players suffered various major injuries: Potgieter, Carter, Hume, Mêlé, Laharrague, Mieres, Meyer. And today Rodor and Volavola.
At least nine matches will be missing
Operated at the cervical level at the beginning of next week, the N.10 of the USAP will be unavailable for ten weeks. He will miss at least nine matches.
January 9: Provence-USAP
January 15: Mont-de-Marsan-USAP
January 22: USAP-Colomiers
January 29: Montauban-USAP
12 February : USAP-Carcassonne
February 19: Angoulême – USAP
February 26: USAP – Valence
05 mars : Oyonnax – USAP
12 mars : USAP -Provence Rugby
Return hoped for on March 26 in Grenoble.
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