Tune out of tour as old injury flares up

Ben Tune, the Australia winger, has been ruled out of next month's tour to England, Scotland and France. The 23-year-old, who is already his country's third-highest Test try scorer of all time, has aggravated the ankle injury he sustained against South Africa in this year's Tri-Nations series.

Ben Tune, the Australia winger, has been ruled out of next month's tour to England, Scotland and France. The 23-year-old, who is already his country's third-highest Test try scorer of all time, has aggravated the ankle injury he sustained against South Africa in this year's Tri-Nations series.

Tune failed to complete a training session in Japan and has returned home to Brisbane. The Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen said: "Ben is understandably frustrated by the injury that, ultimately, means he will have to wait until next year's Vodafone Super 12 season before he gets another run.

"He had been working hard to recover for the important, upcoming Test matches. Unfortunately, he has reaggravated the right ankle and requires further rehabilitation to ensure his long-term playing career.

"The injury could not have come at a worse time, given the number of experienced players already missing from the tour. At this stage we are not planning to include any new players in the tour squad."

Tune added: "Frustrating is one way to describe the situation. This year has not been the best from my personal perspective and it looks like I have a bit more rehabilitation work to do. The good news is that I have plenty of time to get the ankle right before next year."

Nigel Redman and Tosh Askew have been appointed England Under-19 coaches through to the end of the Fira World Cup next April. Both men will work alongside new Under-19 manager Joe Lydon.

Redman, the former Bath, England and British Lions lock, is also director of rugby at Basingstoke, while Askew was Under-19s assistant coach last term.

Lydon said: "The squad we will be working with is vital to the development process as players aspire to progress to the Under-21 and senior teams.

"After the Fira Under-19 World Cup, I will review the position we have reached before opening talks with Ollie [Redman] and Tosh regarding their future involvement with the squad. They are both excellent appointments."

Redman added: "I enjoyed coaching a few sessions with the England Under-17 development squad last year, and I aim to bring the experience I gained at club and international level to bear with the Under-19s."

The former Welsh international winger Nigel Walker has been appointed player development officer of the Welsh Rugby Union.

* The Irish international Niall Woods could return from a 13-month injury absence when Harlequins visit their European Shield rivals Dax today. The goal-kicking wing suffered knee-ligament damage playing for a Premiership All-Stars XV against England at Twickenham in September last year. He joined Quins from London Irish in the summer and, after starting full training a month ago, will be among the replacements in Dax.