USA National Rugby Team

Bulletins


Lumkong Scratched from USA Lineup

(Killiney, Ireland) 1 October 1999 -- Number eight Rob Lumkong has been scratched from the USA's Rugby World Cup opener against Ireland tomorrow, to be replaced by lock Alec Parker.

Lumkong, a veteran of 26 caps, is out because of problems with his left knee. The Denver Barbarians star also missed much of the Epson Cup due to knee trouble.

Lumkong's scratch means Parker joins Luke Gross at second row, Dave Hodges shifts to blindside flanker, and Dan Lyle moves to number eight. Parker, who plays for the Gentlemen of Aspen, the American club champions, has earned 21 caps since his 1996 debut.

Twenty-one-year-old backrower Shaun Paga replaces Parker on the reserves bench.

Lumkong will be out of action for two to three days, after which time his continued participation in the World Cup will be evaluated, according to the USA's medical staff. Front-line USA lock Philippe Farner previously had been ruled out of the USA's World Cup squad after undergoing back surgery.

United States: Kurt Shuman; Vaea Anitoni, Juan Grobler, Tom Takau, Brian Hightower; Mark Williams, Kevin Dalzell; George Sucher, Tom Billups, Ray Lehner, Luke Gross, Alec Parker, Dave Hodges, Richard Tardits, Dan Lyle (captain). Reserves: Mark Scharrenberg, David Niu, Jesse Coulson, Fifita Mo'unga, Shaun Paga, Joe Clayton, Kirk Khasigian.

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Scott Compton
USA National Rugby Team
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