Spies out of RWC

Pierre Spies will not be a part of the Springbok team to contest the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.

SARU has released an official statement to the effect that the original diagnosis of pulmonary embolism as a result of ‘thick blood’ was accurate and that Spies will be out of action for at least three months.

A second opinion that the player had coughed up blood at a training session as a result of pneumonia had given the South African rugby-supporting public hope that the star eigthman would be able to take part in at least the latter stages of the World Cup.

It now appears that the initial diagnosis was correct and that SARU will not risk the player’s health.

The official statement issued 14 August 2007 on the SARU website:

SA Rugby has received a review of all the medical assessments done on Pierre Spies and an opinion expressed thereon.

According to this opinion (provided by a leading pulmonologist) “there is irrefutable evidence that the player had pulmonary emboli on the 30th July 2007,” the first day he was diagnosed.

The respiratory specialist is of the opinion that Spies needs ‘full anticoagulation for a minimum of 3 months. Full anticoagulation precludes the player from any contact sports.” This recommendation has been discussed with Spies.

Spies has the right, in terms of medical principles, to decide whether to undertake the recommended treatment or not.

Based on this third opinion, SA Rugby has, with regret, reaffirmed its earlier decision to withdraw Spies from the Springbok Rugby World Cup squad, and to replace him with 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.