Rugby

New Zealand prop Greg Somerville was ruled out of the All Blacks grand slam tour of Britain and Ireland just hours before the squad's departure yesterday. The Canterbury front rower failed a last-minute fitness test on a calf injury that had been...

New Zealand prop Greg Somerville was ruled out of the All Blacks grand slam tour of Britain and Ireland just hours before the squad's departure yesterday.

The Canterbury front rower failed a last-minute fitness test on a calf injury that had been troubling him.

Saimone Taumoepeau, who had been put on standby, replaced Somerville in the 35-man squad.

The All Blacks play the first leg of the tour against Six Nations champions Wales on November 6.

They will also play Ireland (November 13), England (November 20) and finally Scotland (November 27) in an attempt to repeat their grand slam sweep of 1978.

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