Injury delays D'Arcy's rugby World Cup trip

Ireland centre Gordon D'Arcy's departure for the Rugby World Cup has been delayed by 48 hours following a calf injury. D'Arcy is staying behind after suffering a strained calf, not in a match but during a recovery session that took place just hours before Ireland were due to board the plane for New Zealand on Tuesday. An Irish Rugby Football Union statement said: "The injury was scanned and to minimise the possibility of any swelling on the flight, it has been decided that it is more prudent to allow the strain time to recover before he joins up with the Ireland squad in Queenstown." However, Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton insisted the injury had not currently sidelined D'Arcy from any of Ireland's World Cup matches, starting with a Pool C opener against the United States in New Plymouth on September 11. "Gordon is not ruled out of anything yet -- it is a slight calf strain and we will re-examine it before he flies out." McNaughton added: "Jamie Heaslip had a concussion but he is fine and ready to fly out. There is nothing else of concern to us at the moment." Ireland are due to arrive at their Queenstown training base on Thursday.