Somerville ruled out of Grand Slam tour

Greg Somerville

Greg Somerville was today ruled out of the All Blacks' rugby tour of Britain and Ireland.

All Blacks medical staff ruled out the Canterbury prop in Auckland after he failed a fitness test before the squad's departure tonight.

He has been replaced in the 35-man tour party by Auckland's Saimone Taumoepeau, who had been placed on standby this week.

Somerville has not played since suffering a calf injury in Canterbury's Ranfurly Shield defence against Auckland on October 8.

The four-test tour starts with a test against Wales in Cardiff on November 6 (NZ time).

- NZPA