LEIGH Centurions prop Dave Whittle has been ruled out of the rest of the Wales Lincoln World Cup campaign with a neck injury.

The 24-year-old forward was detained in hospital in Cardiff on Sunday night after sustaining the injury in a tackle in the opening moments of the second half of the 58-18 defeat by New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium.

He was released from hospital yesterday but has damaged ligaments in his neck and has been warned to avoid any physical contact for between four and six weeks.

The news is a blow to coach Clive Griffiths before next Sunday's quarter-final in Widnes. Although he plays his rugby outside Super League, Whittle has been a revelation in the group two fixtures and would have been in the 17 for the Auto Quest Stadium tie.

It is also a setback for Leigh head coach Paul Terzis with the Centurions due to start their NFP programme on December 10.