Willis Halaholo: Hamstring injury rules Cardiff centre out of Wales’ South African tour

Stan Wilson

Wales centre Willis Halaholo will miss out on his country’s series with South Africa this summer because of a hamstring injury.

The 31-year-old Cardiff player has been capped 10 times by the Welsh national team after making his debut in 2021 versus Scotland, but he will have to wait until he’s fit for his next appearance.

Wales boss Wayne Pivac‘s injury list is already extensive as Ken Owens, Leigh Halfpenny, Justin Tipuric and Aaron Wainwright are all confirmed absences for the trip.

The woes only get worse as Johnny McNicholl, Wyn Jones, Ross Moriarty, Leon Brown, Will Rowlands and Elliot Dee are also doubtful to reach fitness in time.

Halaholo’s Welsh capital teammates Tomos Williams and wing Josh Adams may also miss out due to injury.

Summertime sadness

Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young told BBC Sport: “Willis is definitely a non-starter (for South Africa).

“He had a real nasty hamstring tear but also had his shoulder done. His shoulder was probably something we would have looked at later.

“Because his hamstring was nasty with tendon involvement, that was always going to rule him out of the summer tour, it made sense for him to get his shoulder done at the same time.

“It is touch and go for Josh and Tomos, they are not available for the next two games for us.

“I am sure the Welsh management will pick up with our medical team to see where they are.

“They are definitely not ruled out or ruled in but it’s touch and go on how they respond to early stages of rehabilitation over the next couple of weeks.

“Josh suffered a medial (knee) ligament injury so he has started his first stages of his rehabilitation.

“It just depends how quickly that comes on and where he us over the next couple of weeks, and Tomos is very similar.

“We will get to a point where the two medical teams will chat and it’s over to Wales on whether they are comfortable in their timescales.”

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