SBW travels with Blues to South Africa

There are some late replacements for injured players in the Blues Super Rugby team travelling to South Africa but Sonny Bill Williams is cleared of concussion.

Sonny Bill Williams of the Blues

Sonny Bill Williams has been cleared of concussion and is travelling with the Blues to South Africa. (AAP)

Sonny Bill Williams has been cleared of concussion and is travelling with the Blues to South Africa.

The 25-strong squad left Auckland on Saturday morning after their 50-32 Super Rugby victory over the Cheetahs at Eden Park on Friday night.

Williams copped a knee to the head in Sydney last week and under return to play guidelines sat out the Cheetahs match.

Blues coach Tana Umaga had said he expected the inside centre to be fit to play the Stormers in Cape Town next Friday.

He is joined by Matt Duffie, spelled from last night's game, and a mandatory third hooker, Joe Royal.

Two players from last night's win are out of the touring party because of injuries received in the match against the Cheetahs.

Prop Pauliasi Manu left the field early with a calf injury while Ihaia West injured his ankle when he came on as a substitute for Piers Francis who had received an injury in the first half.

Manu has been replaced by Sione Mafileo, with Bryn Gatland re-joining the Blues as a replacement for West.

Gatland played three games for the Blues as a replacement, but exited the squad on Thursday before the late call to travel to South Africa. Francis was considered fit enough to travel with the touring party.

Blues squad: Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Charlie Faumuina, Sione Mafileo, Alex Hodgman; James Parsons, Hame Faiva, Joe Royal; Patrick Tuipulotu, Scott Scrafton, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti; Steven Luatua, Blake Gibson, Akira Ioane; Kara Pryor ; Augustine Pulu, Sam Nock; Piers Francis, Bryn Gatland; TJ Faiane, Sonny-Bill Williams, George Moala, Matt Duffie, Rieko Ioane, Melani Nanai, Michael Collins.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world