Scarlets cautious over Stoddart return

From the Evening Post:

THE Scarlets are hopeful Wales international Morgan Stoddart will be fit for the start of the new season — but insist they will tread carefully with the full-back's recovery.

Stoddart suffered a horrific double fracture of his leg playing for Wales in a World Cup warm-up match at Twickenham last summer.

The injury ended the full-back's dream of travelling to New Zealand and sidelined him for the entire campaign.

Stoddart has returned to light training under the guidance of conditioning coach Brad Harrington at Parc y Scarlets.

And while the West Wales region are optimistic the 27-year-old will be back in action for the opening salvo of the RaboDirect Pro12, they are also cautious of thrusting him back into the fray too soon.

"The X-rays have come back fine and Morgan is currently back running and doing some light rugby sessions," said a Scarlets spokesperson.

"We are hoping he will be ready to play a part in pre-season and then for the start of the league season, but obviously it was a serious injury and at the moment we have to be mindful of that.

"He is having a specific training programme with Brad Harrington to get him up to speed.

"Morgan is an integral member of our squad and hopefully we can see him back in action very soon."

Stoddart isn't the only member of the Scarlets squad on the recovery trail.

Back-rower Rob McCusker (shoulders) and centre Gareth Maule (ankle) underwent surgery in the off-season, while scrum-half Aled Davies is set to feature in the pre-season matches in August after recovering from his latest knee operation.

Wing Dale Ford has been another long-term absentee, although he is still recovering from the double fracture of the leg he suffered in the LV= Cup match against the Blues last October.


Hope we see Stods back on the playing field soon, has had a terrible run of injuries.

Will be good to see Stodds up and about again, back on the wing for Scarlets ? Wonder where he would fit back in the Welsh squad

Fingers crossed Stodds will make a good recovery. Personally I would rather see him miss the start of the season, if it means he will be fully fit and ready for the rest of the year. Poor sod seems to be one of those people who just have the worst luck with injuries.


P.S. any news on who the pre-season friendlies will be against or when?

Narbonne August 10th

Worcester August 18th

London Welsh possibly at home?

Cheers, I assume the other two are away then? I try to get up to the home pre-season friendly/ies and make a weekend of it.

Lets hope he doesn't get any hickups in his recovery and gets to take part in some of the pre-season.

Munkian - I'd image he would be back up for Halfpenny at 15, or would challenge Cuthburt for his wing slot (or have 15 Stodds, 14 Halfpenny, 11 North)