Bulls and Springbok number eight Pierre Spies was on Tuesday officially ruled out of this year’s World Cup in France.
The 22-year-old was given the bad news on Tuesday after learning last week he may still have an outside chance of making it to France, where the tournament kicks off on September 7.
Spies was withdrawn from the South Africa squad two weeks ago after doctors found blood clots in his lungs. He was coughing up blood and had a shortness of breath while in training during a Springbok camp in Durban.
Initial estimations were that Spies would be out of action for between six and eight months and would not be allowed to participate in any contact sport.
He was immediately placed on anti-coagulation medication [blood-thinning medication].
A second opinion from a different specialist in his hometown of Pretoria, however, challenged the earlier findings of Spies having possible pulmonary embolism and it appeared the 104kg loose forward may well still make the trip to France.
SA Rugby however, through the Boks’ team doctor, Yusuf Hassan, sought a third specialist opinion in Cape Town and after consultation between all three doctors Spies visited it was decided he was not well enough to play in France.
A South African Rugby Union statement issued on Tuesday said that according to opinion provided by a leading pulmonologist ”there is irrefutable evidence that the player [Spies] had pulmonary emboli on July 30”, the first day he was diagnosed.
The statement goes on to say the respiratory specialist is of the opinion that Spies needs ”full anti-coagulation for a minimum of three months. Full anti-coagulation precludes the player from any contact sports”.
Spies has the right, in terms of medical principles, to decide whether to undertake the recommended treatment or not.
Spies’s place in the World Cup team has been taken by Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis.
Andy Marinos, Manager of National Teams at SA Rugby, said he has accepted the outcome and praised the efforts of the specialists and the Springbok medical team in this regard.
”The medical team did everything they could to resolve this serious and potentially life-threatening matter as speedily as possible.
”They conducted themselves in a very professional manner and always placed the welfare of the player first,” said Marinos.
The Springboks face Namibia in a warm-up game at Newlands Stadium on Wednesday evening, before the team departs for Ireland on Friday where they will come up against provincial outfit, Connacht. They will also face Scotland in a Test match in Edinburgh before moving on to France. — AFP
