Newcastle Falcons rocked as key star faces SIX-MONTH layoff after horror tackle
12/03/2024 01:39 PM
Newcastle Falcons centre Sammy Arnold is set to miss up to six months of action after tearing the medial ligament in his knee during their dramatic victory over Saracens.
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The injury occurred in the dying moments of the match when Saracens lock Hugh Tizard delivered a dangerous hit from the side, resulting in a red card.
"It was completely unwarranted," said Falcons consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond. "I don't think it was intentional, but reckless definitely, and Sammy's looking at four, five, six months out."
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‘Smashed his knee’
Arnold has been a standout performer for Newcastle since joining from French side Brive in the summer, making his absence a bitter pill to swallow.
While acknowledging that injuries are an inevitable part of rugby, Diamond was left fuming at the reckless nature of the tackle that sidelined Arnold.
"The game is hard enough as it is without doing things like that," Diamond said. "The young lad was frustrated—they're losing a game they're not expecting to lose, and in the 80th minute, he's seen an easy target and effectively smashed his (Arnold's) knee.
"It looks dreadful on the video. There was everything wrong about it—coming in from the side, targeting the knee. It's frustrating."
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