Rugby-Union
Taylor set to miss rest of the season

Buy photos » Ezra Taylor is carried from the pitch after being struck down with a serious knee injury. Picture by Ian Smith

NEW signing Ezra Taylor is set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury, just moments into his Worcester Warriors debut away to London Wasps on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Samoan international, who signed just before Christmas, was handed the number eight jersey but after only two minutes was struck down with the injury before being taken off on a stretcher.

Head coach Richard Hill confirmed after Warriors' 6-0 victory over Wasps at Adams Park the injury is believed to be a snapped patella tendon, which could rule him out for the rest of the campaign.

“The jinx has continued with the back row unfortunately,” he said.

“We think he has snapped a patella tendon and that is probably his season gone now, so two minutes into his Worcester career and it is gone so we are bitterly disappointed for him.

“As it turned out, yes, it was a bit of a risk fielding him.”

“And the gamble unfortunately didn’t pay off but Jake Abbott and the other two lads did very well to adjust.”

Despite the blow, Hill said he will not look to dip back into the transfer market to find a replacement and will instead hope the injury situation with his other back rowers improves.

“We will have a severe talk to our medical staff and make sure that one of our three other back rowers gets fit pretty quickly,” he added.

“We have got Adam Balding, Kai Horstmann and Neil Best all out at the moment and they gave been long term. We have got to try and hurry them up again, so I don’t really want to go in the market and look for another back row – it is pretty tough to find one.

“But with a bit of luck one of those three will be fit in the next couple of weeks. Not next week against Gloucester unfortunately but hopefully after that we have got a four week break before the next league match away to Sale."