Injury forces Twigg out of Gallagher Great Race

One of Waikato University's trump cards for the women's event at the Gallagher Great Race - Emma Twigg - is out of the race on Sunday with a rib injury.

Emma - ninth in the Olympic Games single sculling event - picked up the injury last week but was not aware it would be so painful until she raced in the Thursday night ergometer race in Hamilton against Sydney University. "It was pretty bad after that and the advice I have had is to sit out the race," the disappointed Twigg said.

Twigg has a busy international racing schedule lined up as she looks to resume her full-time training post-Beijing, but will have to rest for around three weeks to allow the injury to recover.

Waikato will now field their reserve in the women's boat, which still includes several top names from women's rowing in New Zealand including Rebecca Scown and Fiona Paterson.