Ospreys scrum-half Kieran Hardy has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on a serious knee injury, leaving him in a race to be fit for next year's World Cup in Australia.
The 30-year-old, who has 32 caps for Wales, was forced off during the match against the Dragons at Rodney Parade earlier this month. Ospreys assistant coach Richard Kelly had indicated at the time that the recovery would take "months" rather than weeks.
Injury Details Confirmed
Ospreys head coach Mark Jones has now confirmed that Hardy will not play again this season. "It is a serious knee injury which has needed surgery which tells you its extent," said Jones. "It was a major ligament of the knee and he has got some other bits and pieces that needed rectifying as well."
Jones added: "We are definitely not going to see him this season, we just hope he has a good rehabilitation, there are no kinks in the road and everything goes to plan. We will be crossing everything that he is around for the start of the next season and his availability with the World Cup on the horizon."
World Cup Ambition
Hardy now faces a battle to be fit for the World Cup in Australia. He did not feature in the last World Cup in France, as Warren Gatland opted to bring just two scrum-halves. Hardy was called up as an injury replacement for Taulupe Faletau ahead of the knockout stages but did not play as Wales were eliminated by Argentina in Marseille.
Jones said the World Cup remains a realistic target for the player. "That will be his target but you have to go with the speed the body lets you," he said. "You have to have goals when you are out for a lengthy period and what better target than playing for your country at a World Cup. That is an awesome goal that will keep him on track. He is a great professional and he will apply himself. It is a huge carrot, and until somebody tells him that is not achievable, that is what he will be going for."
Wales Selection Impact
Hardy has been a regular in Wales squads since his debut in November 2020, serving as the obvious deputy to first-choice Tomos Williams. He was involved in 11 of Steve Tandy's 12 matchday squads.
With Hardy injured, Tandy has turned to uncapped Che Hope to compete for the jersey alongside Williams and three-cap scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams. With Hardy now a doubt for next year's World Cup, developing a reliable deputy to the 75-cap Williams will become even more important for the Wales head coach.
