New Zealand prop Charlie Faumuina knocked out during training
Tuesday 18 August 2015 07:40, UK
New Zealand prop Charlie Faumuina's hopes of playing in the World Cup suffered another blow on Tuesday when he was knocked out during training with Auckland's provincial team.
Faumuina, 28, has been working his way back to fitness after neck surgery and although he has not played for the All Blacks this year, he returned to training with them ahead of last week's Bledisloe Cup clash against Australia at Eden Park.
He was then released to play for Auckland for two matches before the World Cup squad is finalised on August 30, but was involved in a collision with loose forward Taleni Seu and knocked unconscious.
"We were doing a defence drill and he had a collision with Taleni Seu," said Auckland coach Paul Feeney.
"They were going for the same ball and they both got concussed, it was just a freak accident five minutes from the end of the session."
Faumuina, who had surgery on a pinched nerve in his neck towards the end of the Super Rugby season, is a strong scrummager and well known for his ball handling and running in open field, which would add to the attacking options of the All Blacks' forwards in England.
The New Zealand Herald reported the player would miss the game against Taranaki on Sunday but is expected to be available for the match against Canterbury on August 29.
