LEICESTER TIGERS HAVE confirmed captain Ed Slater missed their 10-3 Premiership defeat to Sale Sharks last weekend after having 14 stitches in his hand following an accident while trying to cut a frozen bagel.
Slater was due to make his comeback from a knee injury in the match on Saturday after being named as a substitute, but he was not included on the teamsheet at Welford Road.
His absence was not due to his previous injury, though, instead the 27-year-old was ruled out after an accident in the kitchen.
“The moral of the story is don’t get a really sharp knife and try to cut a frozen bagel,” director of rugby Richard Cockerill told BBC Radio Leicester.
“The knife slips, slashes your hand and you have 14 stitches and can’t play.
He is a bit disappointed with himself and he won’t be making breakfast anymore.”
Slater has made eight appearances for Leicester in all competitions this season, but has not featured since 2 January against Saracens.
A huge loss for connacht
A classy, versatile and underrated player who was probably Connacht’s most consistent back during his two seasons. The guy was like a Swiss Army Knife. Very sorry to see him go but wish him every success back home.
It’ll be pretty tough for connacht to get a replacement who’s as versatile as Godwin was. Hopefully they pull something out of the bag though.
@Jim Demps: I think all the departures and replacing with kids from the academy all finance driven. I fear the irfu plan is to ride out the financial storm for next couple years.
Connacht will suffer significantly in that period.
@tribesman: I’d find it strange if the budgets for the provinces weren’t already agreed prior to any Covid 19 interference. The other three provinces were able to go about their business and complete them ok and most contract work and signings are done early in the year before player contracts are run up which allows teams to plan accordingly. To me it looks like the connacht management, for whatever reason, either left it too late to get the work done or delayed it for some reason. Either way what’s probably most telling is that there’s been no grumblings or frustration aimed at the IRFU at the moment from connacht, something you’d imagine would be happening if there was a slash in budget or if they were refusing transfers in.
@Jim Demps: or they need to pay off a new stadium
Godwin was a hugely respected and talented part of the squad in Connacht for the past two seasons. Hugely versatile and will be very difficult to replace. Nearest similar type player plying his trade for the provinces currently might be Rory O’Loughlin.
@David Finn: Rory would be a great shout. There’s also Noel Reid and or although not like for like Rob K. The IRFU need to stop this penny pinching it won’t benefit irish rugby in the long run.
Connacht not getting a fair shake when it comes to resourcing their squad. You feel a lot of their investment in youth is enforced as they struggle to sign and retain top class talent.
They built up so much momentum under Lam that they’ve lost, mostly down to the lack of financial backing, despite the fact that Connacht continue to punch above their weight in player development and even trophy haul.
We have the resources for Connacht to be able to make the champions cup and be in the play off race every season, but it looks like they’ve taken the hardest hit in cost cutting so far.
Can anyone explain why connacht didn’t hold on to him?
@Bam Singham: he was on a 2 year deal that expired and I think he wanted to head back to Australia.