Test results confirmed on Friday that Western Force centre Junior Pelesasa would be ruled out of the 2008 Super 14 campaign through a knee injury sustained in the Australian Rugby Championship (ARC) last Saturday.
Following his premature exit from the field during the Perth Spirit’s 27-19 defeat to the Central Coast Rays in their ARC semi-final clash at the Bluetongue Stadium, Pelesasa underwent a series of scans – the results of which were released on Friday.
The results revealed that Pelesasa had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and would have to undergo knee reconstruction surgery later this month.
Although the signs were ominous at the outset, there was still a glimmer of hope that the 26-year-old centre would participate in next year’s Super 14, as he was walking freely this week.
“I wasn’t in too much pain and was walking okay so I was hopeful that the damage was minor,” he explained.
It was indeed a crushing blow for both Western Australia’s Super 14 franchise and Pelesasa, who has been set-back by two major injuries in the past three years. However, he did feature regularly for the Force in the 2007 Super 14.
“It’s a big blow because I enjoyed this year’s Super 14 and playing for Australia A and the Perth Spirit, and I was really looking forward to the 2008 Super 14 season,” he said.
The injury also compounds the loss of lock Rudi Vedelago, who announced his premature retirement from the Super 14 last week due to illness in his family.
In 2005 Pelesasa had to undergo a shoulder reconstruction from which he recovered just in time – miraculously – for the 2006 Super 14 only to break his leg in the second game of the tournament against the Hurricanes.
The Force player has now centered his hopes around making a comeback in time for the 2008 ARC.
“Now I’ve just got to focus on getting the knee right again in time for next year’s Australian Rugby Championship,” added Pelesasa.
Following his premature exit from the field during the Perth Spirit’s 27-19 defeat to the Central Coast Rays in their ARC semi-final clash at the Bluetongue Stadium, Pelesasa underwent a series of scans – the results of which were released on Friday.
The results revealed that Pelesasa had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and would have to undergo knee reconstruction surgery later this month.
Although the signs were ominous at the outset, there was still a glimmer of hope that the 26-year-old centre would participate in next year’s Super 14, as he was walking freely this week.
“I wasn’t in too much pain and was walking okay so I was hopeful that the damage was minor,” he explained.
It was indeed a crushing blow for both Western Australia’s Super 14 franchise and Pelesasa, who has been set-back by two major injuries in the past three years. However, he did feature regularly for the Force in the 2007 Super 14.
“It’s a big blow because I enjoyed this year’s Super 14 and playing for Australia A and the Perth Spirit, and I was really looking forward to the 2008 Super 14 season,” he said.
The injury also compounds the loss of lock Rudi Vedelago, who announced his premature retirement from the Super 14 last week due to illness in his family.
In 2005 Pelesasa had to undergo a shoulder reconstruction from which he recovered just in time – miraculously – for the 2006 Super 14 only to break his leg in the second game of the tournament against the Hurricanes.
The Force player has now centered his hopes around making a comeback in time for the 2008 ARC.
“Now I’ve just got to focus on getting the knee right again in time for next year’s Australian Rugby Championship,” added Pelesasa.
365 Digital
