Justin Tipuric is the latest rugby player to be forced to take time out of the game through concussion. The Welsh flanker will miss the Wales' summer tour of New Zealand having been advised to take a three-month break from the sport following a concussion suffered against Italy on the last day of the Six Nations on March 19.
Wales face an absurdly gruelling three-test tour of New Zealand at the end of a season that has seen their players compete in a World Cup and the Six Nations in addition to their club commitments. In addition to the three games against the All Blacks on June 11, June 18 and June 25, Wales have agreed to a midweek game against the Waikato Chiefs. They will do so without Tipuric, and his absence was explained by this statement by medic Chris Towers:
Justin is recovering well. But in the light of his symptoms the advice is it is in his best interests to take time returning.
A prolonged three-month period of recovery rules him out of the rest of the season for the Ospreys and the Wales tour to New Zealand.
The focus for Justin will be on getting healthy and fit, ready for pre-season.
Tipuric lasted just sixteen minutes against Italy before sustaining the injury, having come into the side to replace the injured Sam Warburton.
[BBC]
