SACKEY AND HIPKISS MISS PLANE TO NEW ZEALAND
England tour squad flew out to New Zealand on Monday without London Wasps’ flying winger Paul Sackey and Leicester Tigers’ centre Dan Hipkiss.
The pair sustained injuries in Saturday’s bruising Guinness Premiership final, which Sackey’s team, led by the now-retired Lawrence Dallaglio, won 26-16.
England’s first choice winger Sackey, 28, impressed in last year’s World Cup. And he played the full 80 minutes at Twickenham, but picked up a knee injury which needs attention.
Six-cap Hipkiss, who turns 26 on Wednesday, had to be led off in the first half after fracturing his right cheek and will also miss the two Tests against the All Blacks.
Hipkiss’s opposite man at the weekend, Dominic Waldouck, has replaced him on tour, while the Guinness Premiership’s leading scorer, Tom Varndell, has taken Sackey’s place.
Uncapped 20-year-old Waldouck said: “Being asked to tour New Zealand is fantastic, and I'm very excited and honoured to have been selected.
“It will be my first senior tour, and to go to New Zealand will be a massive challenge, but it's a great opportunity to gather experience and learn from other players on the tour.”
Varndell, 22, has been in the international wilderness for two years. "It's a great honour to be called up with so many quality English wingers around,” he said.
"My last senior tour was to Australia in 2006, so I'm looking forward to having the opportunity of being part of the England squad again."
Tour manager Rob Andrew, whose team first play the All Blacks next Saturday, added: "Both Dominic and Tom are excellent players, and I look forward to working with them over the next three weeks."
England tour squad flew out to New Zealand on Monday without London Wasps’ flying winger Paul Sackey and Leicester Tigers’ centre Dan Hipkiss.
The pair sustained injuries in Saturday’s bruising Guinness Premiership final, which Sackey’s team, led by the now-retired Lawrence Dallaglio, won 26-16.
England’s first choice winger Sackey, 28, impressed in last year’s World Cup. And he played the full 80 minutes at Twickenham, but picked up a knee injury which needs attention.
Six-cap Hipkiss, who turns 26 on Wednesday, had to be led off in the first half after fracturing his right cheek and will also miss the two Tests against the All Blacks.
Hipkiss’s opposite man at the weekend, Dominic Waldouck, has replaced him on tour, while the Guinness Premiership’s leading scorer, Tom Varndell, has taken Sackey’s place.
Uncapped 20-year-old Waldouck said: “Being asked to tour New Zealand is fantastic, and I'm very excited and honoured to have been selected.
“It will be my first senior tour, and to go to New Zealand will be a massive challenge, but it's a great opportunity to gather experience and learn from other players on the tour.”
Varndell, 22, has been in the international wilderness for two years. "It's a great honour to be called up with so many quality English wingers around,” he said.
"My last senior tour was to Australia in 2006, so I'm looking forward to having the opportunity of being part of the England squad again."
Tour manager Rob Andrew, whose team first play the All Blacks next Saturday, added: "Both Dominic and Tom are excellent players, and I look forward to working with them over the next three weeks."
Labels: Dan Hipkiss, England, New Zealand, Paul Sackey, Rob Andrew, Tom Varndell
