Injured All Blacks No 8 Kieran Read will miss the opening weeks of the Rugby World Cup while fellow injured loose forward Adam Thomson looks set to be unavailable for the opening match against Tonga.

Read with a high ankle sprain and Thomson with an inside elbow strain suffered the injuries in the All Blacks final Tri Nations test, a 25-20 loss to Australia in Brisbane on Saturday night, and received MRI scans in Christchurch yesterday on their return to New Zealand.

Read and Thomson will remain with the All Blacks squad as they undergo their rehabilitation.

The All Blacks play Tonga in their opening World Cup pool match at 8.30pm next Friday.


Story by: Dhanjay Deo