Muntz out for More than 6 Weeks
Caleb did a pretty nasty injury to his thumb. It is said the surgery had screws put in just shows you how tough he was to try to put it back in himself and play with it down there in Melbourne, but I think we’re expecting him six to eight weeks. Mick Byrne Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach
Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne confirmed that rising star Caleb Muntz will be out of action the next six to eight weeks.
Byrne said the Savusavu native had a nasty hand injury in Round Two of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific encounter against the Waratahs in Melbourne three weeks ago.
The 21-year-old played most of the match with the injury before being replaced by Teti Tela.
“Caleb did a pretty nasty injury to his thumb. It is said the surgery had screws put in just shows you how tough he was to try to put it back in himself and play with it down there in Melbourne, but I think we’re expecting him six to eight weeks,” Byrne said.
“So, you know, a pretty tough young guy, now he is probably more to be out for more than six weeks. But yet, it’s a bit of a shame because he was going well.”
The injury to Muntz also depletes the Drua’s first five depth as Simione Kuruvoli who was also used at No. 10 last seasons is also out for the rest of the competition leaving only Tela, Kemu Valetini, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre and Kitione Taliga.
Muntz, a former Fiji U20 rep started his 2023 season from the bench and put in a star performance to help steady the Drua to their first win on New Zealand soil against Moana
Pasifika in round 1.
His performance stood out and he relegated incumbent Tela to the bench by the time the team ran out in the Super Round against the Waratahs before succumbing to the injury late in the first half. On current projections, the first five will likely be back in round 12 or 13 to face either the Force or the return match against the Waratahs.
This will leave him just three matches and a possible quarterfinal to show his readiness for national duties.
The Drua faces Highlanders at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday.