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The Hosts need this like a hole in the head
France loses star back rower
From correspondents in Paris
June 17, 2007
FRANCE back-row forward Elvis Vermeulen, one of his country's Six Nations stars, was ruled out of the Rugby World Cup overnight after suffering a slipped disc, his Clermont club announced.
"As the slipped disc needs an operation in the next few weeks, Elvis Vermeulen has been forced to pull out of the World Cup," a statement read.
Vermeulen scored the injury-time try which gave France a 46-19 win over Scotland in March which guaranteed his country retained the Six Nations title.
The injury was discovered when Vermeulen underwent a scan after Clermont's defeat in the French championship final against Stade Francais last week.
"It's difficult to take," he said.
Agence France-Presse