All Black Emoni Narawa Opens Up About Terrifying World Cup-Ending Injury

New Zealand’s rising star, All Black winger Emoni Narawa, has disclosed chilling details about the back injury that shattered his dreams of participating in the Rugby World Cup in France last year.

Narawa, who made a scintillating debut for the All Blacks with a try against Los Pumas in July, appeared poised for a promising 2023. However, a persistent back injury plagued his season, forcing him to miss the entirety of The Rugby Championship and the Bledisloe Cup series.

As the Rugby World Cup drew near, Narawa aimed for a comeback, with coach Ian Foster expressing optimism about the winger’s progress. Unfortunately, fate had different plans, and Narawa reaggravated the injury during a training session in Lyon, ruling him out of the prestigious tournament.

In a candid revelation to Newshub, Narawa shared the alarming details of the injury, stating, “The disc actually slipped out. It was hitting a nerve, and my left leg was numb. It took at least two months for the feeling to come back in my leg. I was just gutted when it happened. I wasn’t thinking about my leg; I was just thinking, ‘S***, I’m out of the World Cup.’ It was scary.”

Despite his relentless efforts to return to the World Cup lineup, Narawa’s aspirations were dashed. The emotional toll was evident as then-All Blacks coach Ian Foster had the difficult task of informing Narawa that he was “going home.” Crusaders flanker Ethan Blackadder was brought in as a replacement.

Reflecting on Narawa’s situation, Foster expressed his sadness for the talented winger, highlighting his dedication and hard work. “It’s incredibly sad. He’s worked hard to get here, and we were excited about where he was at. The best thing for him now is to go and rehab at home.”

Currently on the path to recovery, Narawa has resumed running and is on the verge of returning to full training. With Super Rugby Pacific 2024 on the horizon, the Chiefs anticipate his comeback, providing a silver lining for Narawa after the World Cup setback.

The Chiefs, who hosted the 2023 final, are set to commence their new season against the Crusaders on February 23, promising an exciting rematch of the previous year’s decider.