Emerging Reds half James Tuttle's season is officially over after he re-ruptured his achilles tendon, ending the already wafer-slim chance he had of making a surprise Super Rugby return.
Tuttle was forced out of Queensland Country's NRC grand final after tearing his achilles last October, with the recovery process all but ruling him out of the entire 2019 Super Rugby season.
But his diligent recovery ended dramatically last week when he re-ruptured the tendon in a routine rehabilitation session.
Tuttle had surgery last Friday and has opened up about his experience on social media, calling it "one of the toughest days emotionally".
"Just like that and hopes of a return this season are over," he said on Instagram.
"Last Thursday was one of the toughest days emotionally I've had to date after unfortunately re-rupturing my achilles during a routine rehab session and having surgery the following day.
"Extremely tough pill to swallow after 5 (sic) long months of rehabbing my original tear and getting close to a finish line."
The Nudgee College graduate and former Australian Schoolboys and Australian under-20 representative is behind Moses Sorovi and Tate McDermott in the scrumhalf pecking order but is considered a rising star at Ballymore.
And the 22-year-old is already upbeat about the almost year-long recovery in front of him, ending his social media post with the hashtag #challengeaccepted.
Tuttle's injury is a further blow to the Reds, who are already without boom youngster Jordan Petaia, who had surgery on a foot injury a fortnight ago.
