Sale Sharks and England backrow Ben Curry will unfortunately be unable to participate in the upcoming Premiership final and the 2023 Rugby World Cup due to a severe injury sustained during the semi-final against Leicester Tigers.
Ben Curry fell victim to the notorious 'crocodile roll' technique, joining a distressing list of players including England teammate Jack Willis and Ireland's Dan Leavy who have suffered terrible injuries as a result of this movement.
In light of this incident, Tom expressed his belief that more should be done to safeguard players, stating, "It would be beneficial if measures were taken to prevent the occurrence of the crocodile roll. I think we have reached a point where such action is necessary."
“This doesn’t have to be a big thing. It’s just a conversation. But we’re seeing injuries at the breakdown from that, and you’ve got to start listening to what’s happening.
“For me, ultimately, we’re out there to play the game and if there’s something that’s going to make it safer for people going for the ball then brilliant. But for me rugby is brilliant the way it is, and I’ll leave it at that.
“Ben’s a bit less sore now. Because of the type of person, he is, he hasn’t really left the training ground. He’s been in a hyperbaric chamber for about five hours for treatment,
“It’s tough because if there’s someone who deserves to play in a final, I think it’s him. It’s going to give us an edge. It has to.
“I’m sure he’ll return as the fittest, best person to have back from a hamstring that’s ever happened.”
England’s World Cup fixtures confirmed with routine route to final
The next tournament will be held in France and the hosts will face New Zealand in a blockbuster opening match in Saint-Denis.
Chile and Tonga are the latest teams to qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The finals work the same way as the 2019 tournament with the first two teams in each pool progressing to the quarter-finals, which will be contested by knock-out matches.
If we suppose the top-ranked teams each win their pools and the second-ranked teams finish runners-up then the quarter-finals in 2023 could look something like this…
- Wales vs Argentina
- South Africa vs France
- England vs Australia
- New Zealand vs Ireland
World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “The draw is a key milestone on the journey to Rugby World Cup France 2023, and the time when the tournament truly comes to life for teams and players alike.
“It enables key operational elements to be undertaken such as venue allocation, optimal match schedule development and the ticketing programme.”
FULL 2023 RUGBY WORLD CUP DRAW:
POOL A
- New Zealand
- France
- Italy
- Uruguay
- Namibia
POOL A FIXTURES:
- Sep 8: France vs New Zealand (Pool A) – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
- Sep 9: Italy vs Namibia (Pool A) – Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne
- Sep 14: France vs Uruguay (Pool A) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
- Sep 15: New Zealand vs Namibia (Pool A) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
- Sep 20: Italy vs Uruguay (Pool A) – Stade de Nice, Nice
- Sep 21: France vs Namibia (Pool A) – Stade Velodrome, Marseille
- Sep 27: Uruguay vs Namibia (Pool A) – Parc OL, Lyon
- Sep 29: New Zealand vs Italy (Pool A) – Parc OL, Lyon
- Oct 5: New Zealand vs Uruguay (Pool A) – Parc OL, Lyon
- Oct 6: France vs Italy (Pool A) – Parc OL, Lyon
Antoine Dupont of France calls for the mark during the Six Nations Championship match between England and France at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on March 13 2021. - PHOTO: Micah Crook/PPAUK
POOL B
- South Africa
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Tonga
- Romania
POOL B FIXTURES:
- Sep 9: Ireland vs Romania (Pool B) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
- Sep 10: South Africa vs Scotland (Pool B) – Stade Velodrome, Marseille
- Sep 16: Ireland vs Tonga (Pool B) – Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
- Sep 17: South Africa vs Romania (Pool B) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
- Sep 23: South Africa vs Ireland (Pool B) – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
- Sep 24: Scotland vs Tonga (Pool B) – Stade de Nice, Nice
- Sep 30: Scotland vs Romania (Pool B) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
- Oct 1: South Africa vs Tonga (Pool B) – Stade Velodrome, Marseille
- Oct 7: Ireland vs Scotland (Pool B) – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
- Oct 8: Tonga vs Romania (Pool B) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
POOL C
- Wales
- Australia
- Fiji
- Georgia
- Final qualifier winner
POOL C FIXTURES:
- Sep 9: Australia vs Georgia (Pool C) – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
- Sep 10: Wales vs Fiji (Pool C) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
- Sep 16: Wales vs Final Qualifier Winner (Pool C) – Stade de Nice, Nice
- Sep 17: Australia vs Fiji (Pool C) – Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne
- Sep 23: Georgia vs Final Qualifier Winner (Pool C) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
- Sep 24: Wales vs Australia (Pool C) – Parc OL, Lyon
- Sep 30: Fiji vs Georgia (Pool C) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
- Oct 1: Australia vs Final Qualifier Winner (Pool C) – Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne
- Oct 7: Wales vs Europe 1 (Pool C) – Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
- Oct 8: Fiji vs Final Qualifier Winner (Pool C) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
POOL D
- England
- Japan
- Argentina
- Samoa
- Chile
POOL D FIXTURES:
- Sep 9: England vs Argentina (Pool D) – Stade Velodrome, Marseille
- Sep 10: Japan vs Chile (Pool D) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
- Sep 16: Samoa vs Chile (Pool D) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
- Sep 17: England vs Japan (Pool D) – Stade de Nice, Nice
- Sep 22: Argentina vs Samoa (Pool D) – Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne
- Sep 23: England vs Chile (Pool D) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
- Sep 28: Japan vs Samoa (Pool D) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
- Sep 30: Argentina vs Chile (Pool D) – Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
- Oct 7: England vs Samoa (Pool D) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
- Oct 8: Japan vs Argentina (Pool D) – Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Marcus Smith of England and Alex Dombrandt of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on 20 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
