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Rugby Union

O'Driscoll out of World Cup opener

17/08/2007

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll has been ruled out of the first game of the upcoming Rugby World Cup with a fractured sinus and a deep laceration to his face.

The Leinster centre was apparently punched by Mikaera Tewhata in a warm-up match in France yesterday, which the visitors won 42-6.

O'Driscoll was taken to hospital following the incident and it had been feared he would miss the entire tournament with a broken cheekbone.

However X-rays have revealed the injury is not as bad as first thought and the talismanic skipper will only be ruled out for the final warm-up match against Italy and the opening game against Namibia.

A statement from the Irish RFU: "Following an X-ray and scan of Brian O'Driscoll's injury, it has been confirmed that he has sustained a fracture to his sinus and a deep laceration under his right eye.

"This is not as serious as initially feared and the injury will not require any surgery.

"The recovery period for the injury is three to four weeks which will rule O'Driscoll out of the warm-up game against Italy next Friday (August 24th) and Ireland's first Rugby World Cup pool game against Namibia (September 9th)."

Following the match against the African side, Ireland play hosts France, Argentina and Georgia in the five-team pool to determine the two qualifiers for the knockout stages in October.

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