1
Wasps lock Levi Douglas joins Toulon despite Launchbury's ACL injury
By Liam Heagney
Wasps lock Levi Douglas has temporarily exchanged the Gallagher Premiership for the Top 14 after Lee Blackett allowed the second row head to Toulon until the end of the season as a medical joker despite the ACL injury suffered last weekend by skipper Joe Launchbury,
With just five games remaining, Wasps' hopes of challenging for the playoffs are beyond them, last year's beaten finalists instead restricted to making sure they qualify for next season's 24-team Heineken Champions Cup.
Douglas appeared off the bench in last Sunday's home win over Bath as a replacement for the stricken Launchbury, whose serious injury ruined his hopes of selection for the Lions next Thursday when Warren Gatland selects his squad for the 2021 tour to South Africa.
That run was the eleventh appearance this season for Douglas, his tenth in the league and his eighth appearance off of the Premiership bench. However, it will be his last this term as Wasps have opted to allow the 25-year-old to see out the season at Toulon who have six matches left before the Top 14 end-of-term playoffs.
A statement from Toulon read: "England's Levi Douglas will join until the end of the season as a medical joker. Thus, he reinforces the Toulon second row and will compensate for the injury of Brian Alainu’uese.
"With many experiences in England, Levi Douglas has played eleven games this season with Wasps. Having previously played for Bath and London Scottish, he will discover for the first time in his career the Top 14 for the final sprint of the Toulon season."
Douglas is set to have an enjoyable short-term experience if the fleeting 2018 adventure of veteran Bristol lock Dave Attwood is a gauge. He had fallen out of love with rugby at Bath at the time but his few months inspired the rejuvenation that has vibrantly extended his career.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
George Skivington talks up 'relative unknown's England chances
3
Richie Mo'unga lifts lid on '27 World Cup hopes
4
Bath face nervous wait on England's lock injury news
5
Latest Comments
He lost his starting spot because of his terrible performances against Argentina in Test 1 and especially Australia in Test 1
Go to commentsYes absolutely, JD. All Blacks need Mo’unga and McKenzie at 2027 RWC.
Barrett will be 35 and his pace and skills are in decline and he rarely takes the ball into contact any more and has not for a few seasons, thus his tendency to kick first, pass second, run third. Barrett has this season in the All Blacks and then his time is up.
Hopefully Cotter starts Perofeta at 10 the rest of the Blues’ season and Perofeta steps up and finally reaches his potential as a 10.
Go to comments