Connacht’s Jack Carty KO’d by freak spleen injury

A much-needed respite from rugby has turned into a nightmare for Connacht’s Jack Carty, who has undergone surgery in Dubai to remove his spleen.

The Connacht out-half was among a group of players and their partners on a six-day break in the United Arab Emirates when he ruptured his spleen on a water slide, necessitating emergency surgery.

Connacht coach Pat Lam, in relaying the “sad news”, said the 23-year-old would remain in hospital in Dubai this week, and was likely to be out of action for anything up to three months. At first he just thought it was bruising, but he had a bit of pain and when he had it checked, there was some internal bleeding, and a scan found damage to the spleen.

“He had surgery over in Dubai this morning [Monday]. The spleen has been removed, and he has to stay another week recovering in Dubai. His parents flew over there on Sunday.

“You go from week-in, week-out, taking big hits and surviving that, and then you get a knock on a water slide.

“The most important thing now is he makes a full recovery.”

Connacht, having won their last six games with the Dragons, head to Wales on Thursday with hopes that both wing Matt Healy and flanker Sean O’Brien will be available after suffering head knocks while Jason Harris Wright has gone through the return to play protocols following the Brive fixture and is clear to play.