TORONTO – A rib cartilage injury has forced tighthead prop Jason Marshall to drop out of Canada’s Rugby World Cup squad on the eve of the tournament.
The 30-year-old from North Vancouver was hurt in Canada’s final warmup game, a 47-18 loss to Fiji last Sunday in England. It was Marshall’s first game back from a knee injury.
"Rugby is a cruel sport," Marshall tweeted. "Toughest thing watching the bus pull away without me. Best of luck to the ↕Rugby Canada boys. I’ll be cheering."
His initial injury return had looked to be a good news story.
"We had managed him pretty carefully and got him right," Canadian coach Kieran Crowley said from Swansea, Wales. "And then unfortunately this happened in the (Fiji) game. It’s very unfortunate for him."
Canada, ranked 18th in the world, opens its World Cup campaign on Sept. 19 against No. 6 Ireland in Cardiff.