Neil McCarthy out for 6 months with knee injury

Knee injury
By Duncan Wood
October 7 2002

Bristol's season took a turn for the worse today when it was revealed that Neil McCarthy has suffered a serious knee injury. He damaged the knee against Leicester and will have to undergo surgery.

'Chief' is in his third season at the club and he has established himself as one of the pillars of the strong Shoguns pack. His lineout throwing and work in the tight have been invaluable in recent seasons.

He suffered the injury against Leicester at the Memorial Stadium and according to the press release on the official club site, www.bristolshoguns.co.uk, he has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament and medial ligament.

He will undergo surgery shortly and faces up to 6 months on the sidelines. He'll be determined to make it back before the end of the season and clinch a new contract at the club.

It took a few games for him to replace Barry Williams in the Bristol line up during his first season but, once he was the man in possession, he didn't look back and Barry headed for Neath in search of first team rugby.

Since that point, he has been the undisputed first choice. He made 19 starts in his first season and 26 starts last season with one of the highlights being the try he scored against Bath, one of his old clubs.

His injury will give Saul Nelson a real opportunity to get a run of games under his belt, something that he has been denied before because of Neil's form.

Saul is a full Wales tourist having toured Japan in 2001. He will be backed up by Chris Rowland the England U19 international and current member of the Bristol Shoguns Academy.