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Italy have been hit with the news that first choice hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini is in doubt for the World Cup after suffering a serious knee injury playing against France on the weekend. His club side Toulouse have confirmed that the 34-year-old ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, also damaging his medial ligament and meniscus.
Surgical repair will be required with a typical recovery time of six months. Ghiraldini faces a race against time to return to fitness ahead of the tournament which begins on September 20th. Italy’s first match is against Namibia on September 22, with an all-important contest against Canada on September 26.
Ghiraldini remains adamant he will recover in time to play in what would be his fourth World Cup.
“For me a new challenge has already begun and I will face it with all the determination possible to reach the next goal, to be able to return to the highest levels and be selected for the upcoming World Cup.”
Americas Rugby News’ Paul Tait named Ghiraldini as the starting hooker in his predicted Italian team for the RWC. The article can be seen by clicking here.
To date Ghiraldini has won 104 caps for his country since his debut in 2006, placing him sixth all-time on Italy’s cap list, just two behind former teammate Mauro Bergamasco.
The Azzurri are already without their second choice hooker, Ornel Gega, who has been sidelined for nearly two years after his own knee injury in April 2017. Luca Bigi from Benetton Treviso was Ghiraldini’s understudy during the Six Nations.
