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Kildare - Veteran Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy could miss out on playing in his third Rugby World Cup if he does not recover from an ankle injury in time.
D’Arcy underwent surgery to repair an injured ankle in June and has not taken part in full training since. According to the website of the Irish Rugby Football Union, the team’s manager Paul McNaughton believes that D’Arcy’s chances of travelling to New Zealand with the squad are slim.
"Gordon is tight to make the World Cup. He recovers quickly and is running while bearing his full weight so he is making progress," said McNaughton. "With these type of injuries, a week can tell us a lot."
D’Arcy will miss Ireland’s first World Cup warm up game against Scotland on Saturday, along with flanker Stephen Ferris, who has not played since he had corrective surgery on his knee in January and who also looks likely to miss the World Cup.
McNaughton said that D’Arcy and Ferris were the two Irish players most likely to miss out on World Cup selection because of injury.
"Gordon and Stephen face a race against time but are making progress. If there is a likelihood of guys not playing before the World Cup, then it's those two,” said McNaughton.
"We're hopeful that they may be ready for game-time, maybe in match three or four of the summer series."
D’Arcy’s long time centre partner Brian O’Driscoll, who is suffering from a neck/shoulder injury, will also miss Saturday’s game, but is likely to heal in time for the World Cup.
"He's been doing 80% of the work over the last two weeks," said McNaughton.
"I'm not too concerned about him. He's got a problem with his shoulder/neck and he's been getting some traction on it. But, as I said, he's making progress. He's doing everything except contact up to this week."
D’Arcy underwent surgery to repair an injured ankle in June and has not taken part in full training since. According to the website of the Irish Rugby Football Union, the team’s manager Paul McNaughton believes that D’Arcy’s chances of travelling to New Zealand with the squad are slim.
"Gordon is tight to make the World Cup. He recovers quickly and is running while bearing his full weight so he is making progress," said McNaughton. "With these type of injuries, a week can tell us a lot."
D’Arcy will miss Ireland’s first World Cup warm up game against Scotland on Saturday, along with flanker Stephen Ferris, who has not played since he had corrective surgery on his knee in January and who also looks likely to miss the World Cup.
McNaughton said that D’Arcy and Ferris were the two Irish players most likely to miss out on World Cup selection because of injury.
"Gordon and Stephen face a race against time but are making progress. If there is a likelihood of guys not playing before the World Cup, then it's those two,” said McNaughton.
"We're hopeful that they may be ready for game-time, maybe in match three or four of the summer series."
D’Arcy’s long time centre partner Brian O’Driscoll, who is suffering from a neck/shoulder injury, will also miss Saturday’s game, but is likely to heal in time for the World Cup.
"He's been doing 80% of the work over the last two weeks," said McNaughton.
"I'm not too concerned about him. He's got a problem with his shoulder/neck and he's been getting some traction on it. But, as I said, he's making progress. He's doing everything except contact up to this week."
