Gareth Raynor's dream of playing for England in the Rugby League World Cup later this year has ended when he had to pull-out from a training squad because of a toe injury.

Hull winger Raynor was recently given an injection in a bid to speed up his recovery and get him on the plane for the tournament, which takes place in Australia in October and November.

However, the injury did not respond to treatment and Raynor is now set for an operation which will rule him out of the competition.

England's Australia-born coach Tony Smith is due to announce his World Cup squad after the Super League Grand Final, which takes place on October 4.

Earlier this month Smith, formerly the coach of English Super League sides Huddersfield and Leeds became a British citizen after working in England for the past eight years.

Smith, also the Rugby Football League's technical director, is the second Australian to coach the national side after David Waite.

He has yet to lose a Test while in charge having guided Great Britain (now renamed England) to a victory over France, a series whitewash last year against New Zealand and another win over France, 58-6 in Toulouse in June.

But sterner Tests lie in wait at the World Cup with England drawn in the same pool as hosts Australia as well as New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

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