Sickener for Phillips as his injury jinx strikes again
TOUGH NUT Tom Phillips has been told he can come back again after suffering yet another sickening injury blow.
Flanker Phillips was Wales U20 captain when they won a Junior Six Nations Grand Slam in 2016 but his progression at senior level has been hampered by long spells on the treatment table.
Indeed, his injuries have been so bad that this summer Phillips stepped away from professional rugby at just 25 to play part-time with Llandovery.
But after being called back to train with the Scarlets, Phillips impressed so much he was offered a two-year contract by the region’s head coach Dwayne Peel.
He featured in his team’s United Rugby Championship opener with Edinburgh but suffered a serious knee injury in the Scottish capital which will keep him out for close to a year.
Llandovery head coach Euros Evans worked with Phillips said: “It’s heartbreaking for Tom. He joined our group for a short period and he was excellent for us.
“He made a real difference to our group by bringing a level of professionalism he was used to from the Scarlets. There is no doubt in my mind he is a professional player.
“He has so much talent it’s just so cruel his career has been hindered so badly by injury. He has another recovery to do
now, but he is a real tough nut and as honest and hardworking as you see.
“He won’t give up and I’ve no doubt this won’t break him. He will come back again.”
Phillips captained a Wales junior side in 2016 which featured the likes of Adam Beard, Owen Watkin and Dillon Lewis who are all now senior internationals and in Beard’s case, a British & Irish Lion.
Phillips hasn’t reached that level yet although he does still have time on his side.
Parc y Scarlets boss Peel is a big fan and added: “We’re disappointed for Tom. It doesn’t look good for him with his knee in all honesty.
“Since he’s come back into the fold with us he’s trained really well in the last couple of weeks and really put himself in the frame.
“To have that knock so early on was disappointing for him.
“Credit to him. He’s from Llanelli, he loves the club, and it was great to have him back. He’s a really smart rugby player and it’s a tough one to take for him.”