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Canada has been dealt a heavy blow just five months out from their World Cup qualifying series against the US Eagles with the news that star fullback Matt Evans has suffered a serious knee injury. An awkward fall in a tackle against London Irish last month resulted in significant damage to the lateral side of his left knee, and he went under the knife of orthopedic surgeon Jon Matthews two weeks ago. It’s the second time the knee has been repaired by Matthews, albeit previously on the medial side.
Consigned to missing the rest of the season and the June internationals, Evans has a long road of rehabilitation ahead and hopes to be up and running again in September. It’s a bitter pill not only for Evans but for club and country, as the 28-year-old has been in top form this season after his standout performances in the World Cup. The Pirates are outsiders in the Championship race this season and will have youngsters Jack Arnott and Alex O’Meara to fill the gap in the interim.
For Canada the solution is not so simple with James Pritchard now retired and Harry Jones a full-time sevens player. Highly-rated u20 graduate Andrew Coe is in the midst of a timely return from a serious shoulder injury and could make a rapid rise to contention, while the likes of Brock Staller, Jordan Wilson-Ross, and the uncapped Rory McDonell all featured for senior representative sides in 2016.
