Scotland cap Cornell du Preez set for more surgery on fractured larynx

Cornell du Preez in action for Scotland during the 2018 Six Nations tournament. Picture: SNS Group

Worcester Warriors confirmed the South African-born player would require a further operation on a fractured larynx, with the 27-year-old understood to have undergone emergency surgery in the aftermath of the incident which took place during Worcester’s 21-20 loss to Wasps at Sixways.

The former Edinburgh back-row was making his Gallagher Premiership debut, and had been on the pitch for a matter of minutes before being forced off after a “tackle around the throat”.

Worcester’s Director of Rugby Alan Solomons - who signed du Preez for Edinburgh in 2013 - said after the game: “Nobody seemed to pick it [the tackle] up but it doesn’t look good to me. The larynx sits above the shoulder line.”

Solomons added: “I don’t know what happened, I haven’t seen it - but something must have hit him. He’s not going to fracture his larynx [otherwise].”

Warriors said in a statement published on the club’s Twitter account: “Cornell is stable and resting in hospital. Further surgery will be required to his larynx.

“The club is providing full support for Cornell and his family, and wishes him a speedy recovery.”

Du Preez, who can count Edinburgh Academicals, Heriots, Southern Kings and Eastern Province Kings among his former teams, has been capped six times by Scotland.

The 27-year-old made his international debut as a replacement against England in the 2017 Six Nations tournament, earning his first start during the Autumn Test later that year at No.8 in a 22-17 loss to New Zealand at Murrayfield.