Addison facing into another long spell on the sidelines

Ulster's Will Addison in action against Emirates Lions during their United Rugby Championship clash at Kingspan Stadium. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Cian Tracey Twitter Email

October 19 2021 02:30 AM

Will Addison has been through more than his fair share of injury setbacks so he knows the slog that lies ahead over the coming months.

Having missed most of last season and also hampered the previous year, Addison had been looking sharp in Ulster’s opening four games of the United Rugby Championship (URC), until disaster struck during last week’s win over the Lions.

It looked bad and after the stretcher was called for, the worst fears were confirmed by Dan McFarland, who revealed Addison underwent surgery on a fractured leg on Sunday.

Thankfully the operation went well, but for a gifted playmaker, who has missed so much rugby since joining Ulster in 2018, this is another devastating blow to Addison (29), Ulster and Ireland.

“My first impression when you have knock-backs like that and you’re coming back after a big knock-back and it happens again, surely that’s got to be tough,” McFarland said.

“Same with RG Snyman. Is it easier because it is his second ACL recovery? I wouldn’t think so. He knows what to do practically but that’s a long old road.

“Ultimately, they want to play rugby, don’t they? They know that that’s another experience that isn’t there.

“The realisation that this is a big part of rugby players’ lives, they have been through that aspect of it before, but it’s still got to be tough.”

Addison is facing another long spell out, but Ulster captain Iain Henderson is nearing his return from a hand injury for Saturday’s URC clash against Connacht at the Aviva Stadium.

That should mean Henderson is fit enough to be named in tomorrow’s Ireland squad, with McFarland optimistic that there will be strong Ulster representation

“We would be hopeful that a few of those guys would get Ireland recognition, definitely,” he added.