Vickerman's career in doubt

[Lindommer]

Injury to force Vickerman to quit.

Headline on news.com.au: http://www.optuszoo.com.au/news/sports/news-com-au/injury-to-force-vickerman-to-quit/590400 Feb 15, 2012 9:11pm

WALLABIES and NSW Waratahs second-rower Dan Vickerman is expected to retire from the game after struggling to overcome a leg injury which has dogged him in recent years.
Vickerman, regarded as one of the best lineout forwards in world rugby, underwent a shoulder reconstruction after the World Cup in New Zealand last year and he was scheduled to make a return for the Waratahs in April. But it is believed to be a stress fracture in his leg, dating back prior to his return from Cambridge University to Australia last year, that will force him to hang up his boots. Vickerman, who will turn 33 in June, visited a surgeon today and an announcement is pending.

The South African-born Vickerman began his Super Rugby career with the Brumbies in 2001 and made his Test debut the following year. Abrasive and highly physical, Vickerman developed into a key player for the Waratahs and the Wallabies, but left Australia in 2008 to study at Cambridge University. He returned to Australia last May just in time to win a place in the Wallabies World Cup squad and secured a place in the starting line-up alongside captain and second-rower James Horwill.

 

[ShtinaTina]

Things aren't going to plan.....come on Rugby Gods, give the Tahs a break please.

 

[EVERYFWDTHINKTHEYREA6OR7]

We will be fine, as long as we can teach S Timani to catch a footy. She'll be apples.

Sending out good vibes for Dan V

 

[wamberal]

Tragic news. If he had his time over again, I wonder whether he would have bailed out when he did? He could have had those years as a Test rugby player, and then gone to study (and play) in the UK.

 

[Bruce Ross]

If his forced retirement is confirmed, and I have suspected for some time that he would not take the field this season, the big man is perfectly poised to begin a business career.

A Cambridge degree; an extremely high sporting profile; a close identification with the city of Sydney; an image as a natural leader even though I can'r remember him ever captaining a team; and a reputation as a genuine hard bastard makes him extremely marketable even if the industry he is most likely to move into, financial services, is undergoing its bleakest times in living memory.

Dan told me once that he had never played rugby for money. When I mentioned this to Phil Waugh he scoffed at the idea. Each comment tells us a lot about the attitude of the man making it. Both great people with a different take on life.

Dan, if it's all over thanks for the memories. For mine you will always be one of the true greats of Australian rugby.

 

[Ruggo]

Whatever will be will be. All the best for the future Dan whether it be on the field or in the office.

Bruce, I hope he sticks around the game. Even if he can't play again he seems to have so much more to offer if only as a mentor to young players. His hard arsed nature and precision towards his rugby could see him become a very astute coach. Do you know if he has ever shown any interest in such persuits?

 

[naza]

Strange article. He retired 4 years ago.

Not looking good at lock considering that Horwill tipped to complete his full vagina transition by moving to outside centre this season.

 

[Bruce Ross]

Whatever will be will be. All the best for the future Dan whether it be on the field or in the office.

Bruce, I hope he sticks around the game. Even if he can't play again he seems to have so much more to offer if only as a mentor to young players. His hard arsed nature and precision towards his rugby could see him become a very astute coach. Do you know if he has ever shown any interest in such persuits?

Ruggo, I have never heard him express any interest in going down the coaching road, although he has at times come back to Uni to coach the Colts lineout where by all accounts the kids hang on his every word - you would be very brave or very foolhardy not to pay attention. When he has done this he has typically committed to do a small number of sessions and finished up doing many more.

I think he would be more likely to move straight into the business sphere, although the customary destination for high profile players with good business related degrees has been the financial institutions and they're not exactly in growth mode.

As far as a continuing involvement in rugby, if he doesn't want to coach I would like to see him immediately drafted onto the board at NSW Rugby where he has previously served as a players' rep. Around the board table at Driver Avenue is enough dead wood to rebuild the ark. I think that Dan's blunt abrasive style would disrupt the very cosy atmosphere that seems to exist there.

If that thought causes apoplexy he could start out at committee level with Sydney Uni. He has a great love for the Club and has often expressed a desire to put back into it in appreciation for what he feels it has done for him.

 

[Ruggo]

Cheers for the reply Bruce. Love your suggestion about him comming onto the board of NSW Rugby.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I t would be a top idea to achieve 2 things by future Tahs/NSW Rugby board appointments:
(a) break the Uni/Wicks power axis
(b) break with the unedifying past

 

[mudskipper]

Vickermans career in doubt... wasn't it always for the past 5 years? I feel for the guy but really the Tahs have damage themselves before round 1 with many players... They've done a Force this preseason...

 

[Bruce Ross]

the Tahs have damage themselves before round 1 with many players... They've done a Force this preseason...

I think they'll be very much in the mix. I like the look of the squad and they won't be the only franchise which experiences injury problems.

 

[fatprop]

Waratahs Statement on Dan Vickerman

​

2/17/2012
By Waratahs Media Unit

​

​

Dan Vickerman has been receiving ongoing treatment and rehabilitation on his shoulder and lower leg.
He is making good progress from a shoulder reconstruction last year, with a return to full fitness predicted for April.
He is also receiving treatment for ongoing bone stress to his right tibia. In 2010 he had a rod inserted into the bone which allowed him to participate in last year’s Rugby World Cup however he is still suffering ongoing pain relating to a tibial stress fracture. Despite trying many therapeutic measures, Dan is still in considerable discomfort.
Player welfare is our primary concern and injured players are constantly monitored and assessed during their rehabilitation and Dan is no different. As part of the tri-party arrangement, ARU and Waratahs Rugby are currently working together to fully assess his situation and the further treatment options available. Until this process has been finalised, no decision can be made regarding his future.

 

[Bowside]

"His leg's fucked and we don't know what to do about it"

 

[suckerforred]

So swap Dan's name for Peter Hynes, delete shoulder, swap Lower leg for knee, Waratahs for Reds, and that is the story..... Pity on both counts.

 

[Bruce Ross]

So swap Dan's name for Peter Hynes, delete shoulder, swap Lower leg for knee, Waratahs for Reds, and that is the story..... Pity on both counts.

Or Will "Ducka" Caldwell for that matter, sfr. Some sporting careers are destined to end with a whimper not a bang.

 

[Cutter]

Is Caldwell out of the game for good?

Another lock to disappear too quickly was Al Kanaar.

 

[Lee Grant]

Around the board table at Driver Avenue is enough dead wood to rebuild the ark.

One of your best Bruce.

I'm also one who would like to see Dan coach. I remember his coaching the Tahs lineouts in his younger days and his fellow players were shit-scared of him. Woe betide anybody who stuffed up.

When he was given one of the last Tahs contracts I expected to see him as a player-coach at Tahs training in matters like lineouts and restarts. It seemed all the more sensible for him to do this when he couldn't train himself whilst recovering from an operation, as I assumed that he was on the payroll, but it was not the case in sessions I saw.