Vainikolo Options Open As Neck Injury Rules Out Tonga Call-up

England can rule out facing Lesley Vainikolo in Saturday's crucial World Cup match against Tonga, as Gloucester's rugby league convert will be out for at least a week with the neck injury he suffered at Saracens on Sunday.

That spares Vainikolo making an early decision between his native island and England, for whom he also qualifies on residential grounds after spending six seasons with the Bradford Bulls, and who would offer a far more lucrative option. The 28-year-old confirmed last week that his "ambition is to play international rugby down the line for England", but added: "I am also qualified for Tonga, so it's a question of whoever comes first."

Tonga's team manager, Angus Naupoto, approached the former New Zealand league international before the World Cup began, but there was never any chance of Vainikolo delaying his Gloucester debut. Naupoto was ready to make another approach over the weekend after Tevita Tu'ifua suffered a knee injury in Saturday's defeat by South Africa when another wing, Seti Kiole, was already missing.

"If one of them cannot carry on we would need to call up a replacement," said Naupoto, but Gloucester confirmed yesterday there is no chance of that being Vainikolo. "We're still awaiting the results of scans before we know the exact extent of the injury he suffered at Saracens, but he won't be available this weekend," said a club spokesman. That means Vainikolo will miss his new club's first home game of the season, against Worcester on Saturday night.

Gloucester's west country rivals Bath face losing their head coach Steve Meehan to Italy. The former South Africa coach Nick Mallett admitted this week that he was considering an offer to take charge of the Azzurri when Pierre Berbizier stands down at the end of their World Cup campaign. Mallett would want Meehan to be his deputy, a combination which worked well at Stade Français earlier this decade.

If Meehan left, Bath's first call would probably to be to the former England coach Andy Robinson, who left the club to join the national set-up seven years ago.