Umaga expected to be fit for Sharks

Hurricanes captain Tana Umaga has an abdominal strain but is confident he will be fit to play the Sharks in Saturday morning's Super 12 rugby match at Absa Stadium, Durban.

Umaga was due to rejoin the Hurricanes last night after he played in the tsunami fundraising match in London on Sunday morning (NZ time).

He scored a try in the southern hemisphere's 54-19 win against the north at Twickenham but also suffered the stomach injury and left the game midway through the first half.

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper said Umaga was to have a scan to assess the extent of the injury.

However, the veteran of 92 Super 12 games has assured Cooper he will be fit to play.

However, lock Paul Tito hurt his ribs in the 45-32 win against the Cats at Ellis Park, Johannesburg and returned home when the rest of the team flew to Durban yesterday.

Cooper said Tito had damaged rib cartilage -- an injury first five-eighth Riki Flutey suffered in pre-season training.

Flutey was out for three weeks and Cooper expects Tito to be sidelined for a similar period.

- NZPA