All Blacks hooker Bell ruled out of South Africa tour, Slater called up

The All Blacks' preparations for their South Africa tour have been disrupted by an injury to hooker George Bell. Bell suffered a calf strain during training on Sunday, forcing him to withdraw from the squad ahead of the opening match against the Stormers.

Bradley Slater, an uncapped hooker, has been summoned to replace Bell. Slater is scheduled to arrive in Cape Town on Wednesday, making him unlikely to feature in Friday's game against the Stormers. Bell is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks, a significant blow for the player who has faced previous injury setbacks.

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie conveyed his disappointment for Bell, stating, "We are all gutted for George, to be ruled out of the tour so early." He acknowledged Bell's recent struggles with injuries, calling the calf strain a "real blow for him."

Rennie still has three other hookers in his squad: Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei'aho, and Asafo Aumua. The All Blacks are set to play against provincial teams, the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls, and Lions, as well as four test matches against the reigning world champions, the Springboks, during their tour.

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We are all gutted for George, to be ruled out of the tour so early. He's had a frustrating past few months with injury so it's a real blow for him to have injured his calf again.