The Justin Tipuric interview: One year on from the injury they'd never seen before

It seemed so innocuous at the time and happened without most people noticing.

The setting was Murrayfield, almost exactly 12 months ago, and all the focus was on Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones who had earlier left the field in obvious pain during the warm-up match against Japan. With the tour of South Africa just around the corner, the headlines were written.

So when fellow Ospreys and Wales forward Justin Tipuric also departed a few minutes later, it passed by without too much mention, especially as he didn’t appear to be in anything like as much discomfort. Yet while second row Jones was to miraculously return from his dislocated shoulder inside a month to lead the Lions in the Test series against the Springboks, it was to be a very different story for Tipuric.

: European Cup rugby draws in full as Ospreys given hardest possible task and Cardiff, Scarlets and Dragons discover opponents

Not only was the flanker to miss the tour of South Africa but the whole of the following season as it became apparent just how serious his injury was. We were to learn he had shattered his scapula, damage more akin to what you would normally sustain in a road traffic accident rather than on a pitch. Indeed, it was described by Ospreys coach Toby Booth as "an injury rugby has never seen before".

A year has now passed since that fateful afternoon in Edinburgh on June 26, 2021. But, finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the 85-cap openside. He is back doing contact training with the Ospreys and is looking forward to returning to action next season.

Up until now, he hasn’t spoken much at all about his injury, but with the worst behind him he is ready to reflect on just what he has been through, starting with the incident