Reece Hodge ruled out of November Tests

Melbourne Rebels pair Reece Hodge and Angus Cottrell have been ruled out of the third Bledisloe Cup Test in Japan after both suffered injuries at training.

 
Hodge injured his ankle in the team’s final training session on home soil on Friday and will sit out the clash against New Zealand as well as the upcoming November Tests.

 
Cottrell suffered a knee injury on Thursday and while it’s not considered serious, the backrower will be racing the clock to be fit in time for the final three Tests of the year against Wales, Italy and England.

 
It’s a cruel blow for the 28-year old who was on the cusp of a Test debut following a stellar Super Rugby season for the Melbourne Rebels, before leading the Melbourne Rising in the National Rugby Championship (NRC).

 
Brumbies backrower Pete Samu will now join the Wallabies squad in Japan after the Canberra Viking’s NRC campaign came to a close yesterday, following their defeat to the Fijian Drua.

 
Samu managed 20 minutes for the Vikings in what was his first game back since injuring his knee last month against Argentina on the Gold Coast.

 
The squad for the Tour of Wales, Italy and England will be named following the final Bledisloe Cup clash of 2018.