Welsh rugby coach Warren Gatland sustained serious leg injuries on Easter Monday after falling from a ladder at his Waihi Beach home.
Reports say that he tumbled 3 meters down while cleaning the windows. He landed on concrete, taking the full force of the fall in his heels. As a result, he received multiple fractures in his right heel, and one fracture in his left. He is currently in stable condition at Waikato Hospital.
The former All Blacks hooker and Waikato coach is scheduled for reconstructive surgery on his right heel, delaying his return to Wales. He is presently in leg casts.
Gatland, 48, is expected to make a comeback in time to coach Wales in June, on their three-test tour of Australia. In the meantime, assistant coach Rob Howley is in charge of the team.
Roger Lewis, Welsh Rugby Union chief, said: “We all wish Warren a speedy recovery from the injuries he has suffered in this extremely unfortunate accident.”
A Wales rugby spokesmen released the following statement: “While in New Zealand, Gatland will continue to receive information primarily from Rob Howley, Robin McBryde, Shaun Edwards and Neil Jenkins as they observe and monitor squad players and potential players over the next few weeks.”
“Further information gathered by the head of physical performance, Adam Beard, head of performance analysis Rhys Long, and national medical performance manager Prav Mathema will also be sent directly to Gatland.”
Gatland has been widely tipped to lead the British and Irish Lions on their tour next year of Australia, on top of his commitments with the Welsh national team.
On Twitter..
Gatland fractures both heels after falling from ladder: Welsh rugby coach Warren Gatland suffered serious leg in… http://t.co/UXjcjLPy
— nzheraldrugby (nzherald Rugby) (@nzheraldrugby) Thu Apr 12 2012
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