Australian rugby’s brightest hope Treyvon Pritchard breaks leg in horror hip-drop tackle
Rising Australian rugby star and PNG Chiefs forward Treyvon Pritchard, who broke his right leg and suffered a syndesmosis injury while playing for the Junior Wallabies against Wales on Sunday night, faces surgery and will be sidelined for months (AEST).
A hip drop-style tackle during the 38-36 loss at the Junior World Championship will force the in-demand 19-year-old into a lengthy rehabilitation process.
Hip-drop tackles are banned in the NRL and NFL, but not in rugby. Wales halfback Sion Davies was not penalized for interference by Irish referee Robbie Jenkinson. Following the incident, Pritchard was heard screaming in pain on the ground and was helped off the field.
Pritchard continues to recover with the team in Georgia and will continue to be monitored for swelling before a decision is made when he can return to Australia for surgery.
Referees may, at their discretion, use World Rugby law 9.13, which states that “a player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously”. New Zealand Rugby has publicly encouraged referees to use this law when hip-drop tackles are used in community play.
In July 2020, the NRL sent a note to clubs warning about injuries sustained in hip drop tackles. The NFL banned the action two years ago.
Typically, healing times for syndesmosis injuries range from six to 12 weeks for mild to moderate strains. However, for ligament ruptures that require surgical intervention, this period may last between 3 and 6 months. Pritchard’s fractured right fibula will likely give him more time to heal.
Pritchard had a breakout season in senior rugby, making 12 appearances for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby, and became the headliner for coach Chris Whitaker’s Australian under-20 team.
Pritchard underlined his class with two tries against Fiji and France in the tournament and is in talks with Rugby Australia to extend his contract until the end of 2027.
Brumbies full-back Chayse Geros suffered the same injury as Pritchard, who plays for Australia’s under-20 team, against Spain in the second match of the tournament.
In March 2025, Wallabies star Max Jorgensen risked missing games against the British and Irish Lions after a hip-drop style challenge against the Hurricanes left him with a syndesmosis injury.
Jorgensen underwent surgery and recovered ahead of schedule to play in three Lions Tests against Fiji and in Australia in July.
The Australian under-20 team started their campaign in Georgia with three wins against Argentina, Spain and Fiji, before losing 34-29 to France.
Against Wales, Australia lost three more players to injury in the first 15 minutes of the match; William Ross, Lehopoame Leota and Marshall Le Maitre left the field. Breakaway Le Maitre returned to the game after passing a head injury assessment.
Tom Farr-Jones, nephew of Wallabies World Cup-winning captain Nick, replaced Pritchard and scored two tries to give Australia a 17-14 lead at half-time.
But Wales responded strongly in the second half and held on for the lead, leaving Australia to face Argentina in the seventh-place play-off in Georgia on Saturday.
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