Rugby: Double blow for Samoa

Samoa suffered a double rugby World Cup injury blow yesterday when prop Donald Kerslake was ruled out of the tournament and lock Filipo Levi was left battling for fitness.

Samoa coach Michael Jones, the former All Blacks star, said Kerslake was injured in the 24-21 warm-up win against Northampton two weeks ago and has been sent home.

Levi is in hospital in London after fracturing his eye socket in the 26-7 win against Sale last weekend.

Jones said team management was unsure if Levi would recover in time to rejoin his team-mates, who are in Corsica. Samoa's first World Cup match is against South Africa in Pool A on September 10 in Paris.