Kieran Hardy will miss the rest of the season after surgery on the knee he hurt in the Ospreys’ derby win at Rodney Parade.
The 30-year-old Wales scrum-half had the operation this week. Ospreys head coach Mark Jones hopes he will be fit in time for next year’s World Cup in Australia, which starts in October 2027.
Kieran Hardy knee injury: ‘a major ligament’
Hardy limped off in the first half of the 38-31 win over the Dragons on 9 October.
The following week, the club said he needed surgery and was facing “months not weeks” on the sidelines.
Jones has now spelled out how bad it was. “It is a serious knee injury that has needed surgery, which tells you its extent,” he said.
He said it was “a major ligament of the knee”, and that Hardy had “some other bits and pieces that needed rectifying as well”.
‘We are definitely not going to see him this season’
Jones ruled Hardy out for the rest of the campaign. “We are definitely not going to see him this season; we just hope he has a good rehabilitation, there are no kinks in the road, and everything goes to plan,” he said.
The Ospreys are hoping to have him back for the start of next season. “We will be crossing everything that he is around for the start of the next season and his availability with the World Cup on the horizon.”
Rugby World Cup 2027: ‘a huge carrot’
Hardy has never played at a World Cup. He was called into the squad in France in 2023 as injury cover.
Jones says Australia will be his target. “That will be his target, but you have to go with the speed the body lets you,” he said.
He believes a goal like that will get Hardy through a long spell out. “You have to have goals when you are out for a lengthy period, and what better target than playing for your country at a World Cup.”
Jones called Hardy “a great professional” who will apply himself. “It is a huge carrot, and until somebody tells him that is not achievable, that is what he will be going for.”
Reuben Morgan-Williams and Che Hope in the Wales squad
Hardy has been a regular deputy to Tomos Williams for Wales.
With Hardy out, Ospreys team-mate Reuben Morgan-Williams and uncapped Dragons scrum-half Che Hope are in Steve Tandy’s squad for this month’s Nations Championship games. Jones said last week that Morgan-Williams had “definitely earned” his chance.
Wales open their November series against Japan at Principality Stadium on Saturday 7 November, then face New Zealand on 14 November and Australia on 21 November.
Discover more from Swansea Bay News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
