Poor Charlie

Charlie and Elliot
By Sarah Braide
March 13 2003

What a blow the cruciate ligament injury must be to Charlie Hodgson. With the World Cup approaching this October, he could have reasonably expected to be England's back up fly half for the international competition at the age of 22. That place is now doubtful.

Though Charlie is expected to be fit again by September, he will have missed the rest of the Six Nations and the summer tour to New Zealand and Australia. There is time for somebody else to establish themselves in the England squad and is seems unlikely at this stage that Charlie will be ready to return to England duty in time for the World Cup.

Jonny Wilkinson is fit again and will play for England against Scotland next weekend, but it looks like Charlie's spot will be taken by one of the old school - Paul Grayson or even Mike Catt. Clive Woodward does undoubtedly see Charlie as a part of England's future and I would imagine that he will be training with the England squad as soon as the ligament injury has healed.

Charlie said after the injury: “It is very disappointing to pick up this injury, particularly the way it happened with my studs getting stuck in the turf. I just want to start my rehabilitation as soon as possible and I am just looking forward to playing again.”

Just to rub salt into the wound, Woodward said that had he been fit, Charlie would have started next weekend's Scotland game irrespective of Wilkinson's fitness.

Looking on the bright side of things, we know Charlie and everyone at Sale will work hard to get his knee better as soon as possible. Though it is a set-back to his career in the short term, Charlie is only 22 so there will be more World Cups in the future. You never know what's around the corner - after all, Paul Grayson was playing for England back in the 1995 World Cup, and here is back in the frame eight years later.

Salerugby.co.uk wishes Charlie the very best of luck in his recovery from this frustrating injury.