Veteran Italian hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini is on the comeback trail after undergoing surgery for the knee injury he sustained in his side’s Guinness Six Nations defeat to France.
Ghiraldini was forced off early in the second half in the Azzurri’s Super Saturday clash against Les Bleus in Rome, which ended in a 25-14 defeat for the hosts at the Stadio Olimpico.
The 34-year-old, who has 104 international caps, has since undergone successful surgery on his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) has confirmed.
According to the statement from the FIR, surgery involved reconstruction of the patellar tendon of the anterior cruciate ligament as well as repair work on the medial collateral ligament.
He will now return to French Top 14 side Toulouse to start the rehabilitation process, with Ghiraldini aiming to be back in time to play a part in the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
“The goal shared with the technical staff led by (coach) Conor O’Shea is to recover in time for the September Rugby World Cup,” the FIR statement added.
Such injuries usually take around six months to heal, though, which means Ghiraldini is a doubt for the World Cup – although he should be fit for the 2020 Guinness Six Nations.
“For me a new challenge has already begun and I will face it with all the determination possible to reach the next goal, to be able to return to the highest levels,” Ghiraldini said after the injury.
