Latham still hoping to join Reds in South Africa

Queensland Reds fullback Chris Latham still hopes to be able to rejoin the team during its three week tour of South Africa, despite suffering rib cartilage damage playing for Australia in a Commonwealth Games Sevens Rugby pool match in Melbourne on Thursday night.

X-rays of the injury also discovered a broken rib, which Latham had been carrying for the past month.

The Reds flew out for South Africa early this morning without Latham, but he's hopeful his ribs may respond to treatment sufficiently to allow him to join the team during the three week tour.

Latham said the doctors had told him he could be out for anything from one to six weeks, depending on how he responds to treatment.

"I just have to wait and see at this stage. I'm hoping I might be able to join the team by the middle of next week, or by the following week," he said.

Latham said it was disappointing to be forced to withdraw during the Games Quarter Final against South Africa and to miss the Semi-Final against New Zealand and Bronze Medal playoff against Fiji.

"I had a real dream to win gold and succeed at these Games, so it was disappointing not to be there with the team for the big games," he said.

The Reds are en route to Durban to prepare for their Tooheys New Super 14 match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein next Saturday, March 25. Following that they play the Sharks in Durban and the Cats in Johannesburg.