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Rugby Union

Stomach bug forces Strettle out

29/05/2007

David Strettle will take no further part in England's difficult tour of South Africa.

The Harlequins winger did not play in the 58-10 first Test drubbing doled out to Brian Ashton's men on Saturday in Bloemfontein because of a stomach virus.

Having spent the last few days undergoing treatment in hospital he has failed to sufficiently recover for the second Test in Pretoria next Saturday and as a result will fly back to Britain tonight.

The 23-year-old's absence will hurt England and comes on the back of injuries to Iain Balshaw and Nick Wood. Strettle has three caps for England, making his debut in this year's Six Nations.

England's two-Test tour of South Africa has not gone well so far. The England side fielded under captain Jason Robinson on Saturday featured a total cap tally worth just more than 50 while scrum-half Andy Gomersall has not played for the national side since late 2004.

The stomach virus which swept through the squad and ruled out Strettle also struck down Andy Farrell and Peter Richards for the first Test.

But today's injury news is not all bad, however. Robinson said he is "not concerned" about the minor injury to his leg picked up in the first Test while Jonny Wilkinson's facial injuries did not stop him taking part in a training session earlier today.

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