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LONDON - Argentine centre Martin Gaitan will miss the rugby World Cup after suffering a heart attack, Pumas sources in Cardiff said.
Gaitan played the full 80 minutes of Argentina's 20-27 World Cup warmup loss to Wales at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Sunday (NZ time), but was later rushed to hospital after complaining of chest pains.
The 29-year-old underwent surgery at the University of Wales Hospital and will remain there for at least another 48 hours under observation, Pumas doctor Mario Larrain said.
A report in Argentine newspaper La Nacion cast doubt on the Biarritz centre's future as a rugby player.
Team sources said Hernan Senillosa, like Gaitan a veteran of the 2003 World Cup in Australia, was his most likely replacement in the Pumas squad for the tournament starting next month in France.
Argentina meet host France in the opening match of the World Cup in Paris on September 7.
They also face Georgia, Namibia and Ireland in pool D.
The Pumas left Cardiff on Monady for Brussels where they face a Belgium 15 in a final warmup game next weekend.
- REUTERS
