Glasgow and Scotland stars Jonny Gray and Stuart Hogg have successfully undergone surgery in recent days but now face an extended recovery period that could keep them out of the Autumn Internationals.
Hogg returned home from the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand after a clash with Conor Murray’s elbow left him with a serious facial injury but he hasn’t reconstructive surgery for his looks. It turns out Hogg had an underlying shoulder issue and it’s the shoulder that was operated on last week.
The full-back is expected to remain on the sidelines for four to six months.
Never ideal picking up an injury but these things happen. Operation done, time to rest up then let the rehab begin. Thanks for the support. pic.twitter.com/p7ceqguJ4y
— Stuart W Hogg (@StuartWHOGG_) July 1, 2017
Second-row Gray, who is far less prolific on social media, has had surgery on a wrist injury after returning home from Scotland’s Summer Tour. The 23-year-old second-row faces a similar layoff.
The charitable estimate of 4 months puts them on the comeback trial in October while 6 months would keep them out beyond the November Internationals, where Scotland will face Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.
Ben Toolis is probably sleeping easier, but it will leave Townsend carefully monitoring his would-be full backs in the opening salvos of the season.
UPDATE (4/7): As if to answer that question, fly-half/fullback Brandon Thomson has re-signed at Scotstoun on a 2 year deal after a brief loan spell at the club last season. He joins fellow Stormers Oli Kebble and Huw Jones at Scotstoun. He is Scottish qualified but possibly tied to South Africa following appearances for the U20s.