Latham to recover from neck injury - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Latham to recover from neck injury

01/02/2009 01:49:56 PM Comments (0)

Former Wallabies fullback Chris Latham is expected to make a full recovery after injuring his neck during Worcester's 37-20 Premiership loss to Sale on Saturday.

Latham was taken to hospital for tests after temporarily losing feeling in his arms and legs, but Warriors director of rugby Mike Ruddock revealed the Australian had regained sensation in his limbs and the early prognosis was encouraging.

"Chris has gone to hospital but it sounds like he will be fine," Ruddock told the club's website.

"I'm relieved to hear that he was okay and talking, the medics are optimistic it is not a serious injury.

"It is a shock type injury where the spinal cord gets a jolt and momentarily everything shuts down for a while. He lost a bit of the feeling in his arms and legs for a while but that has now returned.

"Obviously it is still serious enough but the prognosis is positive at this stage."

Latham was undergoing scans for what appeared to be a ligament injury and spinal shock, Ruddock added.

Latham scored the opening try of the game at Sixways Stadium, but was stretchered off the pitch with the Warriors leading 7-3 after he was injured in a maul at the 16-minute mark and the home side struggled in his absence.

"It was a great start by us, and we were looking good," Ruddock said.

"But once we lost Latham, they pinned us back and realised we would struggle with our kicking game."

Sale coach Kingsley Jones said the loss of Latham was a turning point.

"Latham was a big loss for them, and when he went off injured we decided to kick more," Jones said.

Last Thursday, Ruddock hosed down suggestions the former Queensland fullback would take on a player-coach role following the departure of head coach Clive Griffiths.

Ruddock said Latham would have a say in Worcester's plans, along with other senior players at the club, who sit 10th on the 12-team table.

Latham, 33, scored 40 tries in 78 Tests for Australia before retiring from international rugby union last year following a shoulder injury.

He then joined Worcester on a three-year contract.

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