France lose injured Rinaldi

[josie andrews]

Julien Rinaldi's World Cup is over after scans revealed he has fractured his cheekbone in three places.

The hooker suffered the injury during France's Pool B opener against Scotland on Sunday.

"You never want your tournament to end this way and finish the World Cup with an injury," he said.

"I have spoken with all the coaching and management staff and they're happy to let me stay with the team for the rest of the cup and help them out in any way I can, especially if we can make it to the finals."

Rinaldi, who was released by Harlequins at the end of the Super League season, said he would wait until after the World Cup to have surgery and is likely have it done in Australia.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 08,00.html