Rugby
Injury Ruins Burkes Season
30 October 2007
Newcastle Falcons have confirmed that fullback Matthew Burke will miss the rest of the season, after sustaining a knee injury in Sunday’s Guinness Premiership defeat to Bath.
The 34-year-old Australian ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee midway through the second half of the game, with subsequent scans confirming a grade three tear.
Director of rugby, John Fletcher, said: “We’re absolutely devastated by the news, obviously from a team point of view but more importantly for Matt, who has made such an outstanding contribution to the club during his three years with us.
“After a period of time we will sit down with Matt and see what he feels the best course of action is, but the advice from the medical team is that this injury carries a nine-month rehabilitation period, which sadly means we will not see him play again this season.”
In his three years with the Falcons Burke has made 81 appearances, scoring 430 points including 26 tries. This season alone had seen the World Cup winner score two tries and 38 points in his six outings.
An Australian sporting legend, the former NSW Waratah scored 878 points in his 81 Wallaby Tests, including 25 points in the 1999 Rugby World Cup final as he kicked his country to victory.
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