South African rugby star Jean de Villiers' sustained a brutal injury during a match against Wales over the weekend. In the 57th minute de Villiers was pursuing the ball in a scrum when he was tackled from behind by a Welsh opponent. de Villiers' left leg, however, didn't get the memo.
As the Springboks' captain was pulled backwards, that leg stayed in place, before buckling and then twisting horribly. The 33-year-old suffered a dislocated knee cap and significant ligament damage, and will require surgery.
Rugby Player's Brutal Knockout
The injury comes with horrible timing for de Villiers. The recovery period following surgery is expected to last a minimum of eight months; should it last any longer than that, it will potentiall keep de Villiers sidelined during the Rugby World Cup, which looms on the horizon in September 2015. de Villiers has already missed the 2003 and 2007 World Cups due to various injuries.
"We are currently consulting with the best specialists in South Africa to determine the best way to approach the surgery as there are potentially a few options available," said Springboks team doctor Craig Roberts, per the BBC. "It's imperative that the best course of action is decided on so that Jean can start recovery and rehabilitation as soon as possible to give him the best chance to be fit for the World Cup."
Watch footage of de Villiers' injury below. Be forewarned that the footage is graphic
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