Four Wallabies have been sent home from Australia's World Cup training squad camp after failing fitness tests during yesterday's testing sessions, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said.
Wallabies Mark Gerrard, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Lote Tuqiri and Morgan Turinui, who all toured Europe last November, will return to their home states to undertake fitness programs, the ARU said.
Wallabies Coach John Connolly said the players were required to meet certain standards of fitness during the camp in the Australian capital of Canberra.
"We set some standards for this camp at the end of the European tour and the four players have been sent home for failing to meet those standards," Connolly said. "They will resume training with their Super 14 teams on Friday to start fitness programs."
Connolly said taking action against the players would send a strong message to others chasing inclusion in the final World Cup squad for this year's tournament in France.
"Players were told at the start of the camp that if they were unable to meet certain standards they would be removed from the camp," he said.
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