Rebels-bound winger Dom Shipperley set for long stint on sidelines following ankle surgery

QUEENSLAND Reds winger Dom Shipperley will potentially miss 18 months of rugby due to his horrific ankle dislocation.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 27: Dom Shipperley of the Reds is seen to by medical staff during the round 17 Super Rugby match between the Rebels and the Reds at AAMI Park on June 27, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images)

QUEENSLAND Reds winger Dom Shipperley will potentially miss 18 months of football due to his horrific ankle dislocation.

The Shipperley injury is the latest encountered by a Reds squad marred by injury woes this season, with Will Genia (ankle), Quade Cooper (shoulder) and Chris Feauai-Sautia (shoulder) already out for the season.

Shipperley fractured and dislocated his ankle in the Reds 36-20 victory over the Melbourne Rebels last Friday night after a freak collision with Rebels centre Tom English.

“It’s one of those injuries… when you see it you just don’t want to go back and look at it again,” Reds coach Richard Graham said.

“He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time unfortunately.”

A long road to recovery lies ahead for the talented winger after his surgery on Sunday, but according to Graham he is in “really good hands”.

“It’s certainly going to be a long time, probably 12 to 18 months, before Dom’s at his best,” Graham continued.

“He’s a really diligent kid though, and will look after himself well throughout the process.”

Reds centre Anthony Faingaa is also expected to miss the final two games of the season after sustaining a calf strain in the matchup against the Rebels over the weekend.

Regardless of the Reds’ thin backline situation, Graham said the squad was determined to finish the season on a positive note.

“We’re very keen to finish the season well against the Waratahs, but certainly our focus at this point in time is our matchup against the Force this weekend,” he said.

Ben Tapuai is expected to start at inside centre, with utility back Sam Kerevi also given the start against the Western Force this Saturday night in Perth.

Originally published as Rebels-bound winger Dom Shipperley set for long stint on sidelines following ankle surgery