England lock Dave Attwood has admitted he is gutted after injury ruined his chances of playing at the World Cup in New Zealand.
New Bath lock gutted at injury setback
England lock Dave Attwood has admitted he is gutted after injury ruined his chances of playing at the World Cup in New Zealand.
Attwood had looked certain to be part of the training squad for the tournament after impressing during Gloucester's run to the Premiership play-offs and then also for England against the Barbarians.
However a knee injury suffered playing for the Saxons in the Churchill Cup has ruled him out for six weeks, meaning he is yet again stuck on the sidelines.
A suspension for stamping on La Rochelle's Petrisor Toderasc during an Amlin Challenge Cup clash in December saw him miss the RBS Six Nations.
And although he forced his way back into contention, specialists have now ruled him out of the training group after he damaged his right knee during the rout of Tonga.
"It is okay, it can't be helped," Attwood told
skysports.com.
"Six weeks and I'll be back training but it is the story of my season really.
Focus
"First I was out over Christmas with the ban that took me out of the Six Nations, then with Gloucester's good run of form, it was hard to force my way back into the side.
"I started getting some form and playing well as Gloucester reached the play-offs, but then this happens.
"If you didn't smile about it you'd probably cry."
The door has been left ajar for a return to the squad by the England management, provided Attwood can prove his fitness in pre-season and then someone gets injured to open up a spot.
But, although the tournament doesn't start until September 9, Attwood has admitted his sole focus now is on impressing at new club Bath.
"England have said I could get called in if someone gets injured or that," said Attwood. "There is still a long way to go and a lot could still happen but for me it is over.
"I can now concentrate on my move to Bath and settling in at a new club rather than stressing about being away.
"Bath have been really good and given me a couple of weeks off otherwise I wouldn't really have had a break from the Tonga game, so hopefully when I return for pre-season I will be almost ready to go.
"It is obviously gutting but the positive is that I can now focus on Bath. It is a long old pre-season so I have time to get up to speed."
