Michael Fatialofa set to return to Worcester Warriors after serious spinal injury

The 27-year-old lock has been in hospital since January 4 when he suffered a severe contusion of the spinal cord within a minute of coming on as a replacement in the Gallagher Premiership match at Allianz Park.

He has spent the last four months in the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital in Aylesbury where he has made such remarkable progress that he is due to be discharged today from the specialist spinal injuries unit.

Warriors will support the next stage in Michael’s recovery with a programme supervised by Ryan Kehoe, the club’s Head of Medical. Michael will also have use of the facilities at Sixways, subject to the latest social distancing regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kehoe said:  “Following a hand over from the rehabilitation team at the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital, we will look to continue to build on the amazing work they have done with Michael.

“His rehabilitation at this stage will focus on improving his general muscular strength, co-ordination and mobility.”

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Here are, in RUCK's opinion, the 5 dirtiest players in rugby history.

A second row with something of a short fuse. Picked up a five-week ban after being sent off for kicking All Blacks hooker Anton Oliver in a Test in Dunedin in 1998, two weeks for punching Lawrence Dallaglio in a club match in 2003, two months for biting All Black hooker Keven Mealamu during the first Lions Test in 2005, six weeks for punching French lock Thibault Privat in 2007 and seven weeks for stamping on Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris in 2010. Knew his way to the disciplinary offices!

Known as The Enforcer, All Blacks prop Loe had something of a reputation. In October 1992, his actions caught up with him when he was found guilty of deliberately inserting his fingers into the eyes of Otago full-back Greg Cooper “with considerable force” during the national championship final.

This one still makes me wince. Northampton flanker Clark was found guilty of intentionally hyper-extending and breaking the arm of Leicester hooker Rob Hawkins during the 2012 LV cup final. The ban was initially for 64 weeks, but was halved due to his guilty plea.

Stade Francais prop Attoub was banned after gouging Ulster’s Stephen Ferris during a stormy Heineken Cup clash at Ravenhill in December 2009.

Ferris told the hearing: “The contact was very strong and extremely painful - the finger in my right eye was forced downward in a poking and gouging motion; it was someone trying to drive a finger as hard as he could into my eye socket and I could not prevent it.” Ouch!

The Springbok lock certainly totted up the bans. Eight weeks for “attacking the face” of Aussie hooker Brendan Cannon in 2003; three weeks for striking another Wallaby, Phil Waugh, in 2009; two matches for an illegal clear out on Adam Jones in the second Lions Test in the same year; four weeks for a similar offence on Gio Aplon in 2010; and nine weeks for a headbutt on Jimmy Cowan in 2010. The dirtiest player ever.