There seems to have been so many injuries already in this tournament which is barely halfway through the group stages. One feels sorry for the players who have had their World Cup short and wish them all a speedy recovery, it just shows what an attritional game Rugby Union is.

We could theorize all day on the possible reasons for all of these injuries: too many games, players bulking up, laws not being sufficient or those that are there not sufficiently enforced, players possibly carrying injuries into the tournament. The harsh reality for those who have been ruled out is that the game involves high speed collisions of big men and they have been reduced to being spectators for the rest of the tournament as well as having to undergo a period of rehabilitation, for some this involves surgery.

We have already covered the injury news from the South African and Scotland camps and so collate some of the rest of the injury news. It is hard to keep up with all the flow of news about all the injuries, especially considering our other commitments so urge all who post to add anything that has been missed out and any new developments.

Australia:

James Hanson and Sam Carter have been called up to the Wallabies Rugby World Cup squad, replacing injured duo Wycliff Palu and Will Skelton.

Palu (hamstring) and Skelton (pectoral) both suffered injuries in Sunday’s match against Uruguay and scans on Monday confirmed the end of their respective England 2015 campaigns.

One of the most respected players in recent times for the Wallabies, Palu’s Rugby World Cup ended when he was replaced at halftime against Uruguay, after missing the Wallabies opening match against Fiji though injury.

Skelton was substituted midway through the 2nd half of that match with what was initially believed to be a shoulder injury but scan results on Monday showed he had sustained a pectoral injury.

The 23-year-old will consult a surgeon on his return to Australia.

Their replacements, Hanson and Carter, have had an active role with the Wallabies this international season and played in the Test against the USA in Chicago earlier this month.

Hanson has 10 Wallabies caps, having debuted in the 2012 Bledisloe Cup Test at Suncorp Stadium, while Carter has donned the gold jersey 12 times since debuting in 2014.

Both players will join the squad looking for their maiden Rugby World Cup appearance.

Wallabies Head Coach Michael Cheika said it was disappointing to see the tournament end for Palu and Skelton after solid contributions by the pair throughout the international season.

“Very few players have the opportunity to play for the Wallabies, let alone at a Rugby World Cup, so from that perspective I’m really gutted for them.

“From a team perspective, they both play important roles in the side and it is disappointing that we need to replace players in our squad.”

Cheika said he had complete faith in Hanson and Carter to fill the void left by the duo for the remainder of the tournament.

“Both James and Sam have been part of the team at various stages this season and I am confident they will be able to step up and grasp the opportunity they have been given.”

(rugby.com.au)

Canada:

Patrick Parfrey has been called up to Canada ‘s 31-man Rugby World Cup squad in place of injured flyhalf Connor Braid.

Braid was forced off during the opening stages of his side’s 23 / 18 Pool D defeat against Italy at Elland Road on Saturday after suffering a broken jaw and concussion. The 25-year-old underwent surgery but his tournament has come to an end.

“It’s an unfortunate situation for Connor to have to end his Rugby World Cup early, but these things happen in rugby and we know he’ll be back in no time,” said coach Kieran Crowley.

“Pat was a logical choice for us because he brings a lot the team. He can play a number of positions in the backfield and has played for us on a number of tours over the last 3 years, including the Pacific Rugby Championship earlier this year in Fiji.”

Parfrey has flown in to join the 31-man squad having previously been used by Crowley as both a flyhalf and a centre in his 7 test caps while also appearing for Canada’s Sevens side.

He last featured for the national team in November 2014 against Romania, Canada’s final Pool D opponents.

“It’s a dream come true for me to be called in to Canada’s 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup. It’s tough that it comes due to an injury to Connor, and I wish him a speedy recovery,” said Parfrey.

Parfrey found out about his selection while in action for the Swilers Rugby Club, midway through the 2nd half against The Dogs in Newfoundland.

He added: “We had just scored a try against The Dogs when one of the facility staff members interrupted the game to get me off the field.

“At 1st my teammates were upset, but then both teams cheered me on when they found out I was off to England to meet the team.”

Canada face France in their next Pool D match on Thursday at Stadiummk in Milton Keynes and are due to announce their team for that clash on Tuesday afternoon.

England:

England have called up veteran No 8 Nick Easter into their squad after Billy Vunipola was ruled out of the rest of the Rugby World Cup 2015 with a knee injury.

Vunipola had a scan on Monday on the knee ligaments which he damaged during England’s Pool A 28 / 25 defeat by Wales on Saturday. Coach Stuart Lancaster said Vunipola was likely to need up to 6 weeks to recover from the injury.

Lock Courtney Lawes is nursing a knee injury that leaves him “50 – 50” to be fit for Saturday’s Pool A game while scrumhalf Ben Youngs has slightly better odds, 60 – 40, of recovering from an ankle knock in time, England coach Stuart Lancaster revealed on Sunday.

The injuries, which forced all 3 players out of the 28 / 25 defeat, are compounded by continued concerns over whether Jonathan Joseph, suffering from a chest injury that forced a midfield reshuffle against Wales, will be fit to regain his place at centre. “We are going to have to wait and see how he trains or if he can train on Tuesday,” Lancaster said.

Fiji:

Fiji prop Isei Colati will miss his team’s remaining 2 pool matches at Rugby World Cup 2015 after injuring his knee in training.

Fiji head coach John McKee confirmed Colati hurt his left knee in a training session on Saturday 26 September at the Swansea University Sports Ground.

Colati was named on the bench in Fiji’s 1st 2 Pool A matches, against England and Australia, and will return to his French club USON Rugby Plus to be assessed by their medical team.

Reserve Taniela Koroi will join the Fiji camp in Swansea on Monday from his Italian club Mogliano.

Timoci Nagusa was all set to hike through the Swiss Alps when Fijian coach John McKee sent an S.O.S.

24 Hours later, the 28-year-old Montpellier wing, who thought his Rugby World Cup chances had gone, was running around in Swansea Bay, hoping to earn his place in the Fijian side for Thursday’s Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool A game against Wales in Cardiff.

An injury to Waisea Nayacavelu meant coach McKee had little choice but to track down Nagusa and request his presence in the Fijian squad, based in Swansea.

Nagusa, who missed Rugby World Cup 2011 because of injury and whose shoulder problems this summer meant him missing out on McKee’s original World Cup squad, took up the story as Fiji wound down after a training session on the shores of Swansea Bay.

“I was actually up in the Swiss Alps, camping, hiking and training with the Montpellier team,” said Nagusa, who had shoulder surgery in the summer.

“On Friday morning, I had a call to join the squad. So, I packed my things and left as quickly as I could.

“It was a good job I had a phone signal, otherwise I might still be up there.

“It was a very long day. First, I had a 7 hour journey back to Montpellier and then a flight to Cardiff via Amsterdam, and a car trip to Swansea to meet up with the boys.

Hard to breathe:

“It was very tiring, but I’m very thankful to be here – and it’s great here, too, good weather and a good surface on which to train.

“Having been up in the mountains training on my fitness with Montpellier, I feel good physically, too.”

Not that a stint at altitude was that easy for Nagusa. “It was tough, very tough, especially at altitude,” he said. “I’m not used to that coming from Fiji. It’s hard to breathe up there. I’m certainly glad to be back down here at sea level.”

Nagusa’s only taste of Rugby World Cup 2015 to date, was a quick trip to London last week to see his countrymen in action against England in the opening game of the tournament at Twickenham.

“I didn’t actually get into the stadium to watch the game because I gave up my ticket to a friend who wanted to go,” Nagusa said.

Great atmosphere:

“I ended up watching the game with some friends in the fanzone. It was great, a great atmosphere.

“We had been given a break from Top 14 training so I flew in to London and watched it before going back to the squad in France.

“I thought we did really well, although it was strange watching it as a fan.

“What I would say is that I have never seen our forwards play so well, especially in the scrums and lineouts. If we have a good set piece, the backs can run and that’s what we like.

“I know Wales will be tough, especially in Cardiff, but I think it’s a good chance for Fiji and we have nothing to lose.

“It would be nice to get a chance because I missed the New Zealand World Cup through injury.”

Ireland:

Ireland fullback Rob Kearney has a gluteal strain and had a scan on Monday in Guildford to see whether he is fit enough for the Pool D match against Italy on 4 October.

Keith Earls passed a head injury assessment at Wembley after the 44 / 10 win over Romania on Sunday, while Jordi Murphy suffered a dead leg but is expected to be fine.

Italy:

Italy captain Sergio Parisse joined the Italy squad early on Tuesday after undergoing a final examination of his calf in Paris on Monday.

Parisse has been training with his club Stade Francais in the French capital since surgery to drain a haematoma in his right calf in early September. He has been undergoing constant check-ups.

He picked up the injury in Italy’s final pre-World Cup game against Wales in Cardiff on 5 September. The 32-year-old missed Italy’s opening 2 World Cup matches, against France and Canada, and was unable to add to his 113 caps, 60 of which have come as captain.

The check-up on Monday showed a significant reduction in the haematoma. Parisse will join preparations for Italy’s next match, against Ireland at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday.

Wales:

Following the Rugby World Cup victory against England on Saturday, Scott Williams (knee) and Hallam Amos (shoulder) have sustained injuries that will preclude them from taking any further part in the tournament and they have been released from the Wales squad.

Both players are currently being assessed by specialists to establish an accurate prognosis.

James Hook and Gareth Anscombe, who were both part of Wales’ Rugby World Cup training squad and featured in warm-up tests ahead of the tournament have been called into the squad as replacements.

Hook will feature in his 3rd Rugby World Cup and will look to add to his tally of 78 international caps. Anscombe made his international debut against Ireland in August.

Liam Williams sustained concussion in the same game and will not be considered for the Fiji fixture due to the impending time frame of the game. He will be continually assessed and is to undertake a graduated return to play before being considered for selection for Wales’ following game against Australia.

(all information sourced from rugbyworldcup unless otherwise stated)