SCOTLAND’S hopes of progressing in the Rugby World Cup suffered a blow after influential full-back Chloe Rollie was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to an arm injury picked up in the defeat against Australia in Whangarei on Saturday.

A tweet from Scottish Rugby added: “Rollie has successfully undergone surgery today and will remain with the team this week while she recovers.”

 

 

“Devastated doesn’t cover how l feel knowing that my Rugby World Cup dream has been cut short … but that’s just how it goes sometimes,” the 27-year-old Exeter Chiefs said in a Twitter post.

Rollie’s loss is a significant blow to Scotland as they prepare to face the much-fancied host.

She has scored 15 tries in 52 caps since making her debut as an outside centre in the 2015 Six Nations.

Bryan Easson's side now have to beat New Zealand on Saturday to keep their hopes of progression alive.

The Scots are bottom of the pool having lost to Wales and Australia but their two losing points have provided a glimmer of hope.

 

 

Potentially they could qualify automatically as runners up but that would require a bonus point win over the hosts coupled with a non bonus point draw between Wales and Australia.

Any victory over the Black Ferns would see a third-place finish if the loser between Australia and Wales failed to collect two bonuses.

But even a third place finish may not be enough and progression to the quarter-finals would depend on results elsewhere.

The game kicks off at 4.45am on Saturday October 22 and will be broadcast on ITV.