Force hit by double injury blow - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Force hit by double injury blow

By Justin Chadwick 11/08/2008 02:01:19 PM Comments (0)

Western Force centre Scott Staniforth and Australian Under-20 lock Sam Wykes have succumbed to injury and are likely to return home early from the Force's five-week development tour of the UK.

Staniforth damaged cartilage in his knee during last week's 25-15 victory over English Premiership outfit Newcastle Falcons.

It is a bitter blow for Staniforth, who missed the final three rounds of the 2008 Super 14 season after injuring the same knee.

That knee injury late in the Force's Super 14 campaign also cost Staniforth the chance of breaking into Robbie Deans' new-look Wallabies line-up for Australia's current Tri-Nations series.

Wykes, who was listed as one of the team's best in the 10-point win over Newcastle, joined Staniforth on the casualty list on Sunday when he dislocated his shoulder during a lineout session at the teams new base at Hatfield.

Both players will undergo precautionary MRI scans but are expected to be ruled out for the remainder of the six-match tour.

Flanker Tamaiti Horua is already back in Australia after deciding to return home for family reasons.

It is unknown whether Horua will rejoin the tour, although a final decision is expected to be known prior to this weekend's clash with Saracens at Old Albanians.

Meanwhile, Force coach John Mitchell has named former Queensland Reds winger Caleb Brown to make his run-on debut for the Force in Tuesday's match against Saracens Academy.

Matt Hodgson will skipper the side, while props Gareth Hardy and Troy Takiari will see their first action of the tour.

Mitchell has also opted for a new-look halves combination, pairing up Australian Schoolboys scrumhalf Justin Turner with flyhalf Scott Daruda.

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