Caslick in doubt for Sydney 7s

Tue, Dec 4, 2018, 4:25 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
She was one of the best performers for Australia in Dubai but now Women's 7s star Charlotte Caslick is in doubt ahead Sydney ruled out with a hand injury. Emma Sykes is another added to the injury list after hyperextending her elbow.

Aussie Sevens star Charlotte Caslick is in doubt for February's Sydney 7s after suffering a hand injury in Dubai.

Caslick hurt a ligament in her hand in the team's opening match against England in the Dubai Sevens last weekend and broke another part of her hand later in the tournament.

While she played through the pain in the tournament, Caslick was sent for scans on her return home and is no certainty to be right for the Sydney 7s, kicking off on February 1.

Speaking to RUGBY.com.au on Tuesday, Caslick was focused on getting the injury fixed up as quickly as possible.

"It sucks," she told RUGBY.com.au.

"But it's part of the sport we play. I've been pretty lucky not to have many big injuries and I guess it's not the end of the world.

"I was in the wars in Dubai, it was a bit bizarre to hurt my hand in two different places but yeah it’s alright, it’ll get fixed and get back to normal."

Charlotte Caslick is in doubt for the Sydney 7s. Photo: Getty ImagesAussie women's Sevens coach John Manenti said they were yet to find out the full extent of the injury.

"Charlie had a hand injury, which she very bravely played throughout the tournament with so we’re just assessing how bad that it is at the moment," he said.

"It’s a bone and a ligament thing.

"The damage of it, until she has the return from the scans and the hand specialist we don’t know."

Manenti said the possible loss of Caslick would be a big blow for the team, with the Rio Olympian generally among the side's best.

"Fingers crossed, she had a fantastic tournament, she was our most consistent player throughout the tournament and always is one of our best players so it’d be a great loss if she gets ruled out.

"In a challenging year, it’s just another one on a challenging list of players we have to look at working around and having some other girls coming back will be good if that’s the case."

Caslick wasn't the only one who came back from Dubai with an injury issue - Emma Sykes suffered a hyper-extended elbow, the extent of which is still being investigated.

"Emma Sykes got injured in the first game, so we lost her for the whole tournament basically six minutes in, which hurt us because her kicking has been outstanding and it takes a little bit away from our kick-offs, Vani being such a great weapon in the air there," Manenti said.

It hasn't all been bad injury news for the Aussies - trio Shannon Parry, Emma Tonegato and Emilee Cherry are in the mix to return for the third World Series leg, while Alicia Quirk made a successful comeback from a knee injury in Dubai.

Share
Force 'heart and soul' Pomare set to reach rare Super W milestone
Michael Hooper is excited about the challenge of playing Sevens in Hong Kong. Photo: Nick Holland/RA Media
'Rookie' ex-Wallabies skipper Hooper ready to step up Sevens unknown
'Brumbies DNA': Wallabies selections on the line for Reds clash - Larkham
'It's pretty hard to leave an environment like this': Jorgensen eager to commit future to Waratahs