 Cunningham in a GB shirt has been a rare sight in recent years |
St Helens hooker Keiron Cunningham has pulled out of the Great Britain squad for the Tri-Nations Series. The 27-year-old Welsh international needs surgery on a knee injury and will be sidelined for four months.
Cunningham has made just one international appearance in three years because of a spate of injuries.
He is likely to be replaced in the first-choice starting XIII by Wigan's Terry Newton, who also deputised for him in the Ashes Series last November.
Then Cunningham, who should be fit again for the 2005 Super League season, missed out because of a leg injury.
He had also sat out the 2001 Ashes series with a hernia and dislocated an elbow in the first Test against New Zealand a year later.
GB coach Brian Noble was philosophical about the loss of one of his star players.
"While it is always disappointing to lose a quality player from the squad, it is important to realise that we have other top players who can play in that position available to us," said Noble.
The inaugural Tri-Nations Series, hosted by Great Britain and also featuring Australia and New Zealand, begins on 16 October.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 