Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery has been ruled out of the World Cup due to a calf tear with Munster's Damien Varley called up as a replacement.

Flannery suffered a tear of his left calf during training in Auckland and an MRI scan confirmed the severity of the injury, which will require four to six weeks rehabilitation.
"Obviously it is particularly disappointing for Jerry to have suffered this injury at this point in the tournament," said Ireland Team Manager Paul McNaughton. "With the fact that he is out for four to six weeks, we needed to make the decision to fly Damien Varley down as soon as possible." The unfortunate Flannery will now be in a race to regain full fitness in time for the start of this season's Heineken Cup. The 2006 and 2008 champions start their campaign with a home game in Pool 1 against Northampton Saints on Saturday, 12 November.