Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio opens up on frightening back injury ahead of his Brumbies return

Noah Lolesio has detailed the fear, then relief, he felt after up to eight hours in hospital due to a back injury sustained during the Brumbies’ Super Rugby match against Western Force.

Brumbies’ Noah Lolesio has revealed his scary hospital experience after severe injury against the Western Force. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio has revealed the “scary” eight-hour hospital wait he endured before being cleared of a fractured back after being stretchered off the field three weeks ago.

There were fears Lolesio had suffered spinal damage during the match against Western Force in Perth.

“It was a bit scary what happened a few weeks ago,” Lolesio said ahead of his return to the Brumbies side for their match against the Crusaders in Canberra on Saturday night.

Lolesio has detailed his ‘scary’ experience. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

“The back just needed a bit of time to rest and get itself right.

“It was just a huge relief (to get the all-clear), it was pretty scary. Not just for me, for my partner, my family as well. It was a real stressful time, that 24 hours when it happened.

“And just sitting there in the hospital waiting for like seven, eight hours and just to get the news at the end of it was really pleasing.

“I copped a bit of stick from the boys, as you can tell. They’re saying two green whistles (painkillers) for a sore back.”

Lolesio stretchered from the field in Perth. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Lolesio’s return will be watched closely by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt as he prepares for the British & Irish Lions.

The 25-year-old five-eighth, who will head to Japan after this season, is confident he has fully mended.

“I just needed time to heal, you couldn’t really do much about it,” Lolesio said.

“So the diagnosis of it was there was no micro fractures or anything like that. It was more like the ligaments were irritated and stretched a bit.

“So I just needed a week or two to just chill out and then started training. And then once it warmed up, it feels good.

“I always wanted to be back for this game. That was the goal from the start. And yeah, I’m just pleased that it happened.”

Noah Lolesio in action for the Wallabies, late 2024. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images

The Brumbies must beat the Crusaders to secure a top-two spot and earn a home playoff game.

While they’ve been Australia’s best-performing side over the past few years, they’ve failed to get to a grand final after losing to high-placed Kiwi rivals in New Zealand.

“Everyone knows the stake of it,” Lolesio said.

“The last few years, we’ve always had a semi-final away and it’s pretty difficult to win, especially across the ditch.

“So we’re putting everything into the performance (on Friday) night and just control what we can control and hopefully we can get a good result.”

Originally published as Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio opens up on frightening back injury ahead of his Brumbies return