Fiji have suffered a huge loss ahead of their Rugby World Cup opener against Wales, after fly half Caleb Muntz has been ruled out for the entire competition. Muntz sustained a knee injury in training, just days before the Flying Fijians start their Pool C campaign against Wales this Sunday.
Fiji Head Coach Simon Raiwalui confirmed that the injury took place during the team’s training run on Monday.
“On Monday, Caleb sustained a knee injury in a non-contact session and is out of the Rugby World Cup.”
Raiwalui said “It’s most devastating for us as a group and for Caleb, he has worked so hard for the past two years with the Fijian Drua and for Flying Fijians. We feel for him as a young man he misses the opportunity so close to the Rugby World Cup.”
He added “We have got 33 players and we have the utmost confidence in them. Once we name the team for the match against Wales we will have utmost faith in whom we have selected.”
Muntz made his debut for the Flying Fijians against Tonga this year and since then has been a vital part of the team throughout the Summer’s preparations. Muntz led from the front as Fiji completed a clean sweep of Tonga, Samoa and Japan to win the 2023 Pacific Nations Cup, before having a starring role in the historic first ever win over England at Twickenham.
With Muntz ruled out of the competition, Raiwalui’s best option to slot in at fly half is Teti Tela, who plays for the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby.