2 Oct 2003

Injured Fiji rugby lock back in the team for World Cup

4:07 pm on 2 October 2003

In World Cup rugby....

The Fiji coach Matt McCallion says a remarkable recovery has seen lock Irefeimi Rawaqa return to Fiji's Rugby World Cup squad just days after he pulled out due to a prolapsed disc in his lower back.

The coach say he had x-rays and he did have a collapsed disc in his spine but in the last day or so it has popped back into place.

He says the lock is now back in the squad and is willing to play again, although the injury could recur.

Rawaqa's injury had prompted an urgent appeal from Fiji for English club player Simon Raiwalui to return home to join his country's team.

Raiwalui, who plays for Saracens, had rejected the appeal.