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Wasps dealt double blow

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 10/10/2009
Rugby Union betting

Wasps duo Danny Cipriani and Tom Rees have been ruled out of England's autumn Test series.

Fly-half Cipriani suffered a knee injury during Sunday's victory over Northampton Saints and is currently on crutches. He is expected to be sidelined for six weeks.

Flanker Rees endured a shoulder operation in July but the injury has not healed properly and he has been forced to have more surgery this week that will keep him out of action until February.

Can Wasps recover from their injury woe and win this season's Guinness Premiership title? - Latest Rugby Union Betting

Rugby union is back in the Olympics following an 80-year absence after sevens was given the green light for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Both rugby sevens and golf were recommended for inclusion in the 2016 Games by the International Olympic Committee board at its meeting in Berlin on August 13.

Rugby sevens was given the green light by a margin of 81 votes in favour and eight against at Friday's IOC meeting in Copenhagen.

Meanwhile, Rocky Elsom has been appointed Australia captain in place of Stirling Mortlock.

The 26-year-old former Leinster flanker has been given the armband as Mortlock has only just returned to action following a serious knee injury and may not take a full part in their forthcoming tour to the British Isles.

In Formula One, Felipe Massa has admitted his chances of returning to action for Ferrari this season are 'very, very low'.

The 28-year-old has been out of action since fracturing his skull during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix in July after a freak accident involving a piece of debris from Rubens Barrichello's car.

In football, England striker Wayne Rooney has no sympathy for Portugal and is hoping that his former Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo does not make it to next summer's World Cup Finals.

Rooney was sent off during England's quarter-final exit from the 2006 World Cup at the hands of Portugal.

The pair have not always seen eye-to-eye following Ronaldo's infamous wink at the Portugal bench after Rooney was sent off for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho.

Three years on and Rooney has already qualified for South Africa with the Three Lions, who are one of the online favourites to win the tournament, but Ronaldo's chances of being there with a struggling Portugal side are hanging by a thread.

Ronaldo is struggling to be fit for his team's double-header against Hungary and Malta which they must win, but Rooney is hoping that his former Old Trafford team-mate is not in South Africa next summer.

Two League One sides have parted company with their managers. Peter Taylor has left Wycombe Wanderers while Tranmere Rovers have sacked the hapless John Barnes and his assistant Jason McAteer.

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