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Tom Curry ruled out of England's tour of Australia because of concussion

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments449

Tom Curry running with the ball
Tom Curry has also played at number eight for England

Sale Sharks flanker Tom Curry has been ruled out of the rest of England's tour of Australia because of concussion.

Curry played in the first Test in Perth on Saturday but was replaced by Lewis Ludlam at half-time.

He had travelled to Brisbane with the team for the next match but will fly back to England later this week.

Eddie Jones' side lost the first Test 30-28 and if they are defeated on Saturday will lose the three-Test series.

In a statement the Rugby Football Union said it was in "the interest of player welfare and recovery" that Curry withdraw and his "assessment and ongoing management" will continue in England.

The governing body did not suggest the 24-year-old, who captained England twice during the 2022 Six Nations, would be replaced in the touring squad.

Curry is the first injury for England during the tour but Australia have been hit with significant losses.

Fly-half Quade Cooper sustained a calf injury in the warm-up before last Saturday's match, with full-back Tom Banks breaking his arm during the contest and prop Allan Alaalatoa going off with a head injury.

Banks will not play a part in the rest of the tour and it has not been confirmed if Cooper and Alaalatoa will continue in the series.

The second Test will kick off on Saturday, 9 July at 10:55 BST and the final match is scheduled for the same time on 16 July.

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449 comments

  • Comment posted by Just_Not_Cricket, at 09:24 4 Jul

    Shame for Curry, but England have enough strength in depth to shake this off.

    I'd still like to see Lawes in the 2nd row... drop the hair-puller Hill with Underhill and Willis at 6 and 7.

    • Reply posted by Sam Court, at 09:36 4 Jul

      Sam Court replied:
      Hill definitely needs dropping after his antics.

  • Comment posted by anybrain, at 09:55 4 Jul

    Best wishes to Tom Curry and a speedy recovery

    • Reply posted by cb, at 13:57 4 Jul

      cb replied:
      Agreed. Like to see Jack Willis given a go if he's up to it w Ludlam and put Capt. Lawes into 2nd row. If I was going all out I'd bench Faz, let Smith run the lot, bring Porter to 12 and as much as I'd love to give young Arundell a start keep him on the bench & let Big Joe C crash away... Oh we can all dream :)

  • Comment posted by Grumpybear, at 09:58 4 Jul

    The England players looked dead on their feet at the weekend, coming off the back of a very long domestic season with virtually no break. It is too much, we are not looking after them.
    It's no wonder all home union teams registered a loss at the weekend.

    • Reply posted by fubber, at 10:02 4 Jul

      fubber replied:
      Exactly this.

  • Comment posted by Russell Smith, at 09:51 4 Jul

    At least we should be able to replace TC effectively as we have strength in depth in the back row...But Jones will probably bring Nowell in from the wing !
    Selection Tip when coaching England. : Pick the the best English players in the Premieship on form and in the their club positions. I know it's a bit radical , but why not?

    • Reply posted by WalthamChief, at 10:15 4 Jul

      WalthamChief replied:
      Simply picking the best English players would only work if every club played the same style. For instance Exeter can play a lighter, more mobile no.8 because they've got a couple of big lumps at 6 and 7. But they don't really use their 7 as a jackal.

  • Comment posted by sportsfan, at 09:44 4 Jul

    As a non England fan this is a huge loss, he is by a country mile the best English player over the last 4 years and does not have a bad game! Big shoes to fill

  • Comment posted by Will, at 09:20 4 Jul

    Glad he's not continuing on the tour.
    No chances should be taken with concussions.

  • Comment posted by ska13492, at 11:12 4 Jul

    Shame Eddie hasn’t been ruled out with a concussion because I swear he’s been coaching with one since the World Cup

    • Reply posted by played12, at 11:59 4 Jul

      played12 replied:
      Trouble is EJ's normal state is just the same as concussion so diagnosis is impossible. You wonder how the RFU selection panel interview went when they selected this wonder coach. Clearly they must think he walks on water as they extended his contract, probably paid him more and made it impossible for him to be sacked. Well done RFU you got your man and we're stuck with him come what may.

  • Comment posted by beshocked, at 10:30 4 Jul

    Eddie needs to put Lawes back in the 2nd row where he belongs.

    People say but Lawes is a backrow.... England beat NZ with a 2nd row combo of Lawes-Itoje.

    An actual backrow vs NZ. Need one vs Australia.

    England's problems haven't changed much, they need to be faster at the breakdown and balance in the centres.

    Balance of power and mobility needed.

    • Reply posted by Just_Not_Cricket, at 10:44 4 Jul

      Just_Not_Cricket replied:
      I agree. I know he doesn't play there for club anymore, but he is better than the rest of the 2nd rows out here, bar Itoje.

      Our back rows are also on a par with (if not better than) him at 6 and 7 (Underhill, Ludlam or Willis).

  • Comment posted by U19603684, at 10:37 4 Jul

    Ben Earl??? Is the player of the season finally going to feature in Eddie's plans?

    • Reply posted by davebarnes, at 10:40 4 Jul

      davebarnes replied:
      Too fast for EJ's vision

  • Comment posted by aido, at 11:39 4 Jul

    It’s nice to see that the first thoughts of some of the comments here are for the welfare of the player. I really like Tom Curry as a player, he seems like a nice lad too, hope he recovers fully and safely. The medical team are doing the right thing here, well played.

  • Comment posted by James, at 10:14 4 Jul

    Mostly clueless

    Eng under EJ

    Plan A isn't really a plan - run at them - recycle - run at them

    Plan B kick and chase

    That's about it - ok for the U14 schools XV

    Not so great at International level

    • Reply posted by Blimmer, at 10:28 4 Jul

      Blimmer replied:
      Luckily Jones doesn't coach them. I doubt they could cope with a play book 3 inches thick.

  • Comment posted by Blimmer, at 10:25 4 Jul

    Well he needs a rest he's played far too many top class games already this season. He's been playing well but like many of the other long term England players nowhere near his best. Its not just an England problem. Just look at the performances of the Worlds best player Dupont. He's been playing well, but well for him is way short of incredible. Its July they've been playing since last September.

    • Reply posted by Grumpybear, at 10:41 4 Jul

      Grumpybear replied:
      Agree. The prem season ends mid June now and they'd have started pre season in July so many of them have been going now 12 months solid. Then they'll return and go straight back into the warm up to the new domestic season. It's crazy.
      NZ/Aus don't work their players like that...

  • Comment posted by davebarnes, at 10:17 4 Jul

    Well there goes the only player in the back-row with any pace.

    Eddie will be pleased - probably play Mako there instead, keep up the tradition of the slowest backrow in International Rugby.

    • Reply posted by quins17, at 10:22 4 Jul

      quins17 replied:
      Disappointing Curry is injured - it made a real difference I think when he went off. England were really slow getting to the breakdown after that. Jack Willis is available. Him and Ludlam with Lawes in the second row and stop worrying about 3 specific line out jumpers.

  • Comment posted by Pragmatist, at 10:40 4 Jul

    I like Tom Curry. Hope he recovers quickly.

    There is something seriously wrong with the game when Hill gets a yellow and the Ozzy player gets a red... I'm not blaming the ref, those are the laws, but it didn't feel "right".

    Karma won out though :)

    • Reply posted by anclan, at 14:04 4 Jul

      anclan replied:
      A headbutt is worse than a hair pull though? Mind you I'm bald so I'm only guessing!

  • Comment posted by carol brown, at 09:40 4 Jul

    I would say we are well stocked, but Curry made one of the very few line breaks in that game! Ludlum played well when he came on, but I think Willis can have the greater impact.

    • Reply posted by First name, at 14:44 4 Jul

      First name replied:
      Ludlam had impact but England need the speed at the breakdown and in defence. Ludlam is a 6 for me.

  • Comment posted by DanJ74, at 09:21 4 Jul

    Not great for Currie and I hope he is OK. For England I thought Ludlam looked good when he came on

  • Comment posted by Mcwanderer, at 17:32 4 Jul

    Really gutted about Tom Curry and wish him a speedy recovery. He will be well looked after with AS at Sale.

    • Reply posted by The Nadger, at 20:22 4 Jul

      The Nadger replied:
      That was because it was 5 seconds before the next forward arrived.
      It was a Gatland team - remember?

  • Comment posted by Pam Lai, at 12:58 4 Jul

    The problem with England is that it’s a bunch of very talented individuals. It’s the Team bit that’s missing. Curry a huge loss.

    • Reply posted by Hopalongprop, at 14:02 4 Jul

      Hopalongprop replied:
      Depends what you mean by 'very talented'? You could apply that term to any pro-player which is fair enough.
      If you're suggesting, as SCW has, that there are x6 'world class' players (in the pack alone!) then that sets some pretty unrealistic standards at the moment. That said the team part is way more important anyway

  • Comment posted by LavenderAthleticSinger, at 12:13 4 Jul

    Losing Curry is a loss, but the correct decision for the player. I did notice though that apparently Wales are hoping that Francis will be available for their third test, surely for player welfare the best option is to allow a full recovery through the summer

    • Reply posted by Just Asking, at 12:40 4 Jul

      Just Asking replied:
      Concussion protocols don't apply to Welsh players in the red shirts, even if they're knocked out. Just ask George North.

  • Comment posted by norm, at 09:45 4 Jul

    Shouldn't have been allowed to play on in that first half but glad they picked it up at HT at least.

    Wish him well with recovery

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