‘I bear absolutely no grudge towards Piers Francis’ | Will Hooley


USA’s full-back has exonerated the England centre for a high tackle and called on back-up officials to offer more help to beleaguered referees

Thank you so much to all those, including a number of England players, who sent me sympathetic messages after I was knocked unconscious late in the game in Kobe last Thursday. It was not exactly the World Cup impact I was hoping for but I am feeling better now and, with any luck, should be available for our last pool matches against Argentina and Tonga.

I have seen the footage of me falling at an angle and being tackled by Mark Wilson but, otherwise, I can’t remember anything about the incident. All I know is that I woke up on the stretcher having, apparently, been out for quite a while. The medical care I received was outstanding but my parents and my girlfriend were understandably worried. Happily the X-rays and scans only revealed minor damage to a shoulder and my tournament is, hopefully, far from over.

Related: Scotland shower points over Samoa in Rugby World Cup walkover

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