By Sparkie
September 4 2003

London Wasps' Alex King was vying with Paul Grayson and Dave Walder for a Rugby World Cup stand-off berth until an old knee injury flared up. King had successfully seen off Walder's challenge but was being rested for this weekend's final warm-up game against France at Twickenham. Now it seems King's World Cup ambitions are at an end. London Wasps' pivot has had knee problems before. He tore a knee cartilage during the early part of the 1997-98 season and underwent an operation.

Despite a swift comeback against Brive in the Heineken Cup that November, clearly his knee was not right and he was forced to drop out of a starting place in the England team to play in the autumn internationals. King has been largely consigned to history since, gaining only five caps to date.

Clive Woodward speaking on www.zurichpremiership.com
said, "Unfortunately it was decided yesterday that Alex King couldn't be considered for the World Cup - he's got a knee problem. He played very well against Wales but it is an old injury. It's flared up in the last two weeks and he's had a lot of treatment on it.

"We all decided yesterday that there was no way we could consider him for the World Cup which he's agreed to very reluctantly and it's very disappointing for him because he had a big chance of going. So he's not going to be considered for
the World Cup and he's off today to see the various specialists. We wish him well - it's very disappointing but we've got to move on.

"I'm not sure whether it needs an operation. He's going to see various specialists but there's no way that we can risk selecting someone like that
on Monday and clearly he agrees with that decision and when a player agrees, you know that it is the right decision.

"I feel very sorry for Alex. He's done very well here so he's now got to concentrate on his own body and get himself fit for his Zurich Premiership club London Wasps. It's sad, but I
can only pick guys who come the end of September are going to be fully fit.

...

"I was very disappointed as I'd have liked to have involved King in one of these two warm-up games against France. We've got to have at least three people in the side that can play 10.

"Clearly we've got Wilkinson and Grayson so we've got to make sure that we get somebody else - Healey can play 10 and I'm also going to invite Mike Catt. He's going to come up today and do some conditioning work and various tests and then he'll go home.

"Also we've still got Dave Walder who I haven't invited back this week. I just need to make sure my options are fully covered. We've just got to get through this weekend's game and we are picking up a few injuries at the moment, then I'll make the call on Monday morning."