Harris Ruled Out of Tour

By Lestyn
May 11 2004

Iestyn Harris is to sit out Wales's tour to Argentina and South Africa, after being forced to rest due to a knee injury.

Harris to miss summer tour
11 May 2004  

Following consultation with doctors, Harris has opted to rest in attempt to avoid possible surgery.

"I'm pretty devastated to be ruled out, I'd earmarked the tour to really make a claim," Harris told BBC Sport. "I've got severe bruising in the shin and quad bones, I've also got a tear in the posterior cruciate ligament."

Harris believes he will not be the only player to pull out of this summers tours;

It's been an extremely long year with the World Cup, we've been playing international rugby since July last year," Harris added.

"There's only so much a body can take at that level and over the next two or three weeks you'll see plenty of players dropping out of tours - not just for Wales but for every country that's going on a tour."

The list of withdrawals from Mike Ruddocks first tour squad already includes Robin McBryde, with Dafydd Jones, Gareth Cooper and Robert Sidoli also likely to be withdrawn should they be called on.

Harris's withdrawal no doubt presents Tom Shanklin with the ideal chance to press his case for the inside centre berth.

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