CAPE TOWN – Springbok flyhalf Patrick Lambie has reiterated his desire to play rugby again as he continues with his rehabilitation from concussion.
The Sharks stalwart has been out of rugby since mid-May, when he clashed heads with teammate Rhyno Smith in a Super Rugby match against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.
Lambie left the field and did not make it back in what was his latest knock to the head area.
Now a report in French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique states that Lambie has signed a three-year deal to join Racing 92 in Paris, which may be seen as an indication that his return to the field was imminent.
But while he didn’t address the Racing 92 issue, Lambie said in a statement on the Sharks website on Monday that while he was still busy with his rehabilitation and would be assessed after a three-month period, which began in July.
“I have been exercising for 30-40 minutes a day for the last month and I started to run again last week. I also have a thorough eye and neck rehab schedule, which I am following on a daily basis at The Sharks,” the 26-year-old said.
“None of the exercise has made my symptoms worse and in fact, I feel my best whilst active.
“I will be playing rugby again and I certainly have no plans to retire. My focus for now is purely on making a full recovery and getting fit and strong again.
“Once the three-month rest period has been completed, I will be reassessed to determine where we are in terms of the rugby calendar for the rest of the 2017 season.”
Despite some rumours, I need to get fit and be cleared to play again before making any decisions on the future. https://t.co/dU4zL0eWdS pic.twitter.com/pKOmZfrNtG
— Patrick Lambie (@PatLambie) July 31, 2017
Sharks team doctor Alan Kourie said that three specialists have been consulted on Lambie’s condition, which included an intermittent headache and “very sensitive eyes”.
But those issues appear to be a thing of the past now. “After a three-week course of medication and a few sessions with a physiotherapist, who focuses on the treatment of post-concussion syndrome, as well as regular physiotherapy sessions with our Sharks medical team, his headaches are almost completely resolved and his eyes are no longer as sensitive to light,” Kourie said.
“We began a specific exercise protocol with him a few weeks ago, which he has tolerated exceptionally well, and he is currently in a very positive frame of mind.”
The last of Lambie’s 56 Test matches was against Ireland at Newlands last June, when he was hurt in an incident with CJ Stander, who had tried to charge-down a kick.
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