10:30am, 12 August 2019

Gareth Anscombe is out of Rugby World Cup contention after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in Wales’ defeat against England on Sunday.

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Anscombe was forced off in the first half of Wales’ 33-19 defeat at Twickenham and was later seen on crutches on the sidelines.

“Gareth Anscombe is out of Rugby World Cup contention after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the match against England yesterday,” read a Welsh Rugby Union statement.

“His prognosis and management with be determined following further specialist reviews. The Wales squad and management would like to wish Gareth the very best with his recovery.”

New-Zealand born Anscombe was capped by the All Blacks‘ Under-20 side before moving to Wales in 2015. Anscombe qualified for Wales through his Cardiff-born mother and won his first cap against Ireland in August 2015.

Not quite the way I was hoping my World Cup dream would finish. Been a pretty tough 24 hours to take but I’m very thankful and humbled for all the kind well wishes. On a positive note I’m excited to watch this @welshrugbyunion team go on and do something special. #cmoncymru pic.twitter.com/G914fYkHGp — Gareth Anscombe (@Gareth_Anscombe) August 12, 2019

The 28-year-old played for Cardiff Blues before joining the Ospreys ahead of the new season. He had established himself as Wales’ first-choice fly-half during their 2019 Grand Slam-winning campaign.

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Anscombe has won 27 caps, but now misses out on the chance to represent Wales in Japan. Dan Biggar is the obvious candidate to reclaim Wales’ No10 shirt – he has won more than 70 caps and scored almost 350 Test points – with Rhys Patchell and Jarrod Evans also options.

Wales continue their World Cup warm-up Tests against England in Cardiff next Saturday, which is followed by home and away appointments with Ireland.

Head coach Warren Gatland is due to name his final 31-man World Cup squad on September 1, 22 days before a tournament opener against Georgia in Toyota City.

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– Press Association

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