Barry RFC's Jay Forsyth seriously injured in Risca match

In the club's youth team's match versus Risca, Jay Forsyth suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle.

The match on Saturday, August 17, was subsequently abandoned after Forsyth suffered the shock injury.

Forsyth , who turns 18 next week, was playing in what was expected to be his penultimate match for the Youth team, and he suffered the injury in a tackle shortly before half-time.

Physios from both clubs supported him as he lay on the pitch prior to a paramedic arriving, followed soon afterwards by an ambulance.

Forsyth was taken to hospital in Cardiff, but released on Sunday, and is staying at home until his operation.

Barry Youth head coach John Dimond praised the physios and medical teams who attended, and has sent a note of thanks to Risca for their help.

“They kept him warm. They couldn’t move him not knowing what damage had been done,” said Dimond.

Dimond said Forsyth would almost certainly be in a cast for six weeks, followed by six weeks of wearing a boot.

“He will probably be able to start working on the ankle again around February, but really he is almost certainly ruled out for the season.”

Forsyth is expected to miss most of the coming season. The injury is due to be operated on once the swelling has subsided.

Forsyth automatically moves into adult rugby at 18, and had been given special dispensation by the WRU to play in two pre-season matches for Barry Youth, the second being at Pontyclun on Thursday.

Jay Forsyth in action for Barry Youth last season (Image: Judith Dutton)

After five weeks of pre-season training, integrating the players who have moved up from the club’s under-16s, Dimond saw his charges start slowly, but settle down in the match.

“Our scrum was dominant, and Risca were beginning to look tired once we started playing at a high tempo,” said Dimond of the game until the serious injury.

Dimond said players welfare was far more important than the match.

“Jay’s health is far more important than a game of rugby,” said Dimond.

Barry scorers: tries – Jack Huggins, Morgan Prosser, Caelan Hurley; conv – Morgan Prosser 2.