Maddocks set to return home with injury

Sun, Sep 30, 2018, 5:09 PM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
Jack Maddocks is returning to Australia. Photo: Getty Images
Jack Maddocks is returning to Australia. Photo: Getty Images

Jack Maddocks is out of next week's Test against Argentina, returning home to Australia with a hand injury.

Maddocks was at Johannesburg airport on Sunday afternoon when the rest of the Wallabies squad was en route to Argentina, sporting a splint on his injured hand.

He is understood to be heading back to Sydney, ruling him out of the Wallabies' final Rugby Championship Test..

Fairfax Media reported on Sunday that the rookie winger broke his finger during training in Port Elizabeth but played through the pain in Australia's loss to the Springboks on Sunday morning (AEST).

Maddocks' hand was heavily strapped in the match and the 21-year-old came off after playing just 27 minutes against the Springboks seemingly causing extra damage to his hand.

Whether the Wallabies call another outside back into camp is yet to be determined, with the team set to arrive in Argentina early on Monday morning AEST.

Maddocks is the second significant injury loss in as many days with hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau also sent back to England to rehabilitate his injured hamstring.

Waratahs and NSW Country hooker Tolu Latu will join the squad in Buenos Aires after playing NRC in Fiji on Saturday.

The Wallabies will spend the first half of this week in Buenos Aires before travelling to Salta for Sunday morning's Test against Argentina (AEST). 

Australia must win the match to avoid finishing last in the Rugby Championship for the first time since the competition's inception.

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