The turf wars take a toll, and Exeter Chiefs' Ross Vintcent is the latest casualty, set for surgery after dislocating his shoulder on international duty with Italy. The injury struck during a fierce clash with South Africa in the Autumn Nations Series, cutting his game short and sending shockwaves through the Chiefs' lineup.
"He’s had a scan on his dislocated shoulder, he’s going to need an operation," disclosed Rob Baxter, Exeter’s director of rugby. The recovery timeline is pegged at about 10-12 weeks, a period during which Vintcent will be sorely missed both at club and country level. Baxter, however, remains optimistic about a robust comeback, "Hopefully, we’ll get him back soon."
"He’s had a really strong start to the season for us,"
Baxter reflected on Vintcent's contributions just before the injury. The forward had been pivotal for Exeter, impacting games with his dynamic play and scoring prowess. His absence will indeed be felt, but Baxter is looking at the bigger picture, hopeful that Vintcent's return could inject fresh energy into the squad at a crucial part of the season.
With Vintcent sidelined, opportunities open up for other players in the Chiefs' roster. Baxter confirmed the readiness of England U20 standout Kane James and the recently recovered Richard Capstick to step up. "Kane’s had more time in the PREM than Richard and had more gametime, so it certainly creates an opportunity for him," Baxter noted, highlighting the different strengths the players bring to the table.
The injury list doesn’t end with Vintcent, as Stephen Varney and Paul Brown-Bampoe are also under the medical team's watchful eyes. Varney is battling a rib issue, while Brown-Bampoe has a nagging ankle injury. Baxter remains hopeful, stating, "It doesn’t look too serious. He’s already walking better today, so hopefully we’ll get on top of that very quickly."
The Chiefs are thus navigating a tricky patch with key players battling injuries as they gear up to face Sale Sharks in their return to PREM action. The depth of their squad will be tested, but with seasoned and emerging talents ready to fill the void, Exeter looks poised to tackle the challenges head-on.
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The turf wars take a toll, and Exeter Chiefs' Ross Vintcent is the latest casualty, set for surgery after dislocating his shoulder on international duty with Italy. The injury struck during a fierce clash with South Africa in the Autumn Nations Series, cutting his game short and sending shockwaves through the Chiefs' lineup.
"He’s had a scan on his dislocated shoulder, he’s going to need an operation," disclosed Rob Baxter, Exeter’s director of rugby. The recovery timeline is pegged at about 10-12 weeks, a period during which Vintcent will be sorely missed both at club and country level. Baxter, however, remains optimistic about a robust comeback, "Hopefully, we’ll get him back soon."
"He’s had a really strong start to the season for us,"
Baxter reflected on Vintcent's contributions just before the injury. The forward had been pivotal for Exeter, impacting games with his dynamic play and scoring prowess. His absence will indeed be felt, but Baxter is looking at the bigger picture, hopeful that Vintcent's return could inject fresh energy into the squad at a crucial part of the season.With Vintcent sidelined, opportunities open up for other players in the Chiefs' roster. Baxter confirmed the readiness of England U20 standout Kane James and the recently recovered Richard Capstick to step up. "Kane’s had more time in the PREM than Richard and had more gametime, so it certainly creates an opportunity for him," Baxter noted, highlighting the different strengths the players bring to the table.
The injury list doesn’t end with Vintcent, as Stephen Varney and Paul Brown-Bampoe are also under the medical team's watchful eyes. Varney is battling a rib issue, while Brown-Bampoe has a nagging ankle injury. Baxter remains hopeful, stating, "It doesn’t look too serious. He’s already walking better today, so hopefully we’ll get on top of that very quickly."
The Chiefs are thus navigating a tricky patch with key players battling injuries as they gear up to face Sale Sharks in their return to PREM action. The depth of their squad will be tested, but with seasoned and emerging talents ready to fill the void, Exeter looks poised to tackle the challenges head-on.