Knee injury sidelines veteran Hugo Southwell from Scotland’s 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign
Scotland Rugby Union’s (SRU) 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) preparations suffered a major blow after their experienced international full back, Hugo Southwell, was been ruled out of the Rugby’s premier event due to injury.
Scotland national team’s head coach, Andy Robinson, confirmed the omission of Southwell from their RWC plans, on Wednesday, July 27. SRU has released the statement in this regard on their official website on Wednesday.
Robinson confirmed that the decision was reached with mutual consent and termed Southwell’s knee injury as the main reason for his omission from their RWC plans.
Robinson said, “Hugo has been working hard to recover from a knee injury but has not been able to take a full part in our training camp and while he may be fit to resume playing in mid-late August both Hugo and I have decided that he will not be part of
our World Cup plans.”
Robinson added that the team will miss the experience of Southwell in the 2011 RWC. He however confirmed that Southwell is working hard in his rehabilitation programme.
Southwell has made 59 international appearances for the Scotland so far. He has also played in five RWC matches during the 2007 RWC.
Earlier, Robinson announced a 40-man provisional squad for their 2011 RWC preparations. The squad is now reduced to 38 players. The last date for teams to announce their final 30-man squad for 2011 RWC is August 22.
The original 40-man squad announced by the Robinson, consisted of,
Forwards: John Barclay, John Beattie (both Glasgow Warriors), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross, David Denton (both Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Ryan Grant, Richie Gray, Dougie Hall (all Glasgow Warriors),
Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Nathan Hines (Leinster), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh),
Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Fergus Thomson, Richie Vernon (both Glasgow Warriors).
Backs: Joe Ansbro (Northampton Saints); Mike Blair, Ben Cairns (both Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Cuthbert (Bath), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow
Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh), Rory Lamont (Toulon), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais), Nikki Walker (Ospreys).
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