Waugh a World Cup doubt

Waugh damaged the ligaments in his left ankle while captaining New South Wales against the Cheetahs in Kimberley on Saturday.

Waugh immediately left the field and was examined at a nearby hospital, where scans revealed he had damaged the ligaments.

New South Wales released a statement saying Waugh could be sidelined for up to six months but the full extent of the injury will not be known until he returns to Australia for a full examination.

"I got up and tried to run and it felt like the ankle gave away a little bit," Waugh said in a statement.

"It certainly wasn't good but we'll just have to wait to see how it comes up over the next few days."

Waugh's injury is likely to leave him in a race against time to be ready for the World Cup, which starts in France in less than seven months time.

He is the second senior Australian player to suffer a serious injury this season.

Queensland fullback Chris Latham will require full knee reconstruction after getting hurt in pre-season training.

World Cup favourites New Zealand have banned their top players from competing in the first half of the Super 14 to limit their chances of sustaining serious injury.