You are in > manchester.com  > News > Ward-Smith to miss World Cup

Rugby Union

Ward-Smith to miss World Cup

07/08/2007

Highly-rated Bristol player Dan Ward-Smith has been ruled out of selection for England's Rugby World Cup squad.

The number eight has failed to recover fully from the dislocated knee cap he suffered the week before he was due to win his first cap for England during the 2007 Six Nations campaign.

Ward-Smith was carried off during Bristol's Guinness Premiership match against Northampton Saints in January.

And although both the player himself and coach Brian Ashton felt he had recovered enough to train with the squad in their preparations for the World Cup in France next month, he has failed to make the grade because he is still hampered by the weak joint.

"Even though he's made fantastic progress from where he was, we've both decided he is not quite right yet to compete at this level," Ashton said today.

"He will be leaving the squad this afternoon."

The England coach must whittle down his training squad to a final 30 players by this time next week, August 14th.

This group will then travel to France to take their place in pool A alongside USA, Samoa and South Africa, with the first match against the Americans on September 8th.

© Adfero Ltd