Wallabies dealt major injury blow as Noah Lolesio ruled out of Lions Tests following neck surgery
Noah Lolesio has been ruled out of the British and Irish Lions series after undergoing surgery on his neck for the whiplash he suffered against Fiji on Sunday.
The Wallabies flyhalf was removed from the field in a medicab during the second half of the team's win over the Flying Fijians and was taken to Newcastle Hospital.
He was discharged on Sunday night and "cleared of significant damage", according to a statement released by the Wallabies, but the severity of the injury proved to be greater than first thought as Lolesio was booked in to have surgery after seeing a specialist in Brisbane on Monday.
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The 25-year-old underwent a spinal fusion procedure on Tuesday, which is set to see Lolesio sidelined for an extended period of time.
Rugby Australia and the Wallabies said the surgery was successful and are confident the playmaker will make a full recovery.
Noah Lolesio has been ruled out of the Lions series. Getty
"We were relieved that Noah was up and moving well when he returned to the team hotel after his initial hospital visit in Newcastle on Sunday," coach Joe Schmidt said.
"Further to that, it's an added relief for everyone, especially his family, that successful surgery now has him on the road to recovery."
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Lolesio sustained a similar injury concern just nine weeks ago when facing the Western Force for the Brumbies in Perth.
The playmaker was taken to hospital for a back injury following that match before being given the all-clear to return to play out the season.
Lolesio underwent surgery after suffering whiplash in Sunday's Test against Fiji. Getty
The injury blow is a new layer to the selection headache facing Schmidt ahead of the the Tests against the Lions, although could put veterans James O'Connor and Bernard Foley firmly in the frame for fairytale comebacks after strong club seasons in New Zealand and Japan respectively.
The official Wallabies squad list for the Lions series will be named on Friday.
