Injured Wales captain Rees out of World Cup
Source: Agencies |
August 16, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WALES captain Matthew Rees was ruled out of the World Cup yesterday after failing to fully recover from a persistent neck injury.
The 30-year-old Llanelli player, with 47 international caps to his name, has received intensive treatment and painkilling injections with the aim of managing the injury, but it has now been decided that Rees should undergo surgery instead.
"The safety and longevity of Matthew's career is paramount," Prav Mathema, the Welsh Rugby Union's medical performance manager, said. "We are all very disappointed that Matthew will not be with us in the World Cup but his health is at the fore of our decision."
Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard has been added to the squad.
Wales coach Warren Gatland has until August 22 to name a final 30-man squad for the World Cup in New Zealand which starts on September 9. Wales is in a group with South Africa, Samoa, Fiji and Namibia.
Australia prop Benn Robinson will also miss the World Cup after electing to undergo knee surgery.
The 42-test veteran was seen as only a slim chance of selection to the Wallabies World Cup squad after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament before the Australia-Samoa test in Sydney last month.
Robinson was an unlucky late omission from the Wallabies squad for the 2007 World Cup.
Australia will name its 30-man squad for the World Cup on Thursday, with Matt Giteau's hopes, and perhaps even his nine-year test career, look to be hanging by a thread as Wallabies coach Robbie Deans ponders his options.
While Quade Cooper was further cementing his place as Australia's first-choice flyhalf in the 14-9 victory over the Springboks at the weekend, Giteau 's star has fallen sufficiently that there would be no great surprise if he was to be omitted.
The 30-year-old Llanelli player, with 47 international caps to his name, has received intensive treatment and painkilling injections with the aim of managing the injury, but it has now been decided that Rees should undergo surgery instead.
"The safety and longevity of Matthew's career is paramount," Prav Mathema, the Welsh Rugby Union's medical performance manager, said. "We are all very disappointed that Matthew will not be with us in the World Cup but his health is at the fore of our decision."
Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard has been added to the squad.
Wales coach Warren Gatland has until August 22 to name a final 30-man squad for the World Cup in New Zealand which starts on September 9. Wales is in a group with South Africa, Samoa, Fiji and Namibia.
Australia prop Benn Robinson will also miss the World Cup after electing to undergo knee surgery.
The 42-test veteran was seen as only a slim chance of selection to the Wallabies World Cup squad after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament before the Australia-Samoa test in Sydney last month.
Robinson was an unlucky late omission from the Wallabies squad for the 2007 World Cup.
Australia will name its 30-man squad for the World Cup on Thursday, with Matt Giteau's hopes, and perhaps even his nine-year test career, look to be hanging by a thread as Wallabies coach Robbie Deans ponders his options.
While Quade Cooper was further cementing his place as Australia's first-choice flyhalf in the 14-9 victory over the Springboks at the weekend, Giteau 's star has fallen sufficiently that there would be no great surprise if he was to be omitted.
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