Billy Vunipola: England and Saracens number eight out for four months
Last updated on .From the section English Rugby
England and Saracens number eight Billy Vunipola will be out for four months with a knee cartilage injury.
Vunipola limped off in the Premiership side's 41-13 win over Sale on Saturday.
The 24-year-old underwent surgery on his right knee on Sunday and will now begin rehabilitation.
Vunipola will miss England's autumn Tests against Argentina, Australia and Samoa so head coach Eddie Jones has added Harlequins' Jack Clifford, 24, to his training squad.
The powerful back rower has 34 England caps, but last appeared for the national team in March after a four-month lay off following another injury to his right knee.
He withdrew from the Lions tour to New Zealand in May with a shoulder injury and subsequently missed the start of Saracens' season.
In addition to missing England's autumn campaign, Vunipola will also be absent for the start of Saracens' European Cup defence.
"It's desperately disappointing for him, considering how hard he has worked during the off-season to get back to full fitness," Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said.
"Billy is a resilient character and he'll have a strong support network around him to get him back on the field in the best possible shape."
England begin their autumn series against Argentina on 11 November at Twickenham.
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9 minutes ago
He's a fat slob
And you're an insignificant troll
Get better soon Billy - Eddie and England need you as much as poor Paapaa needs something to make his life meaningful... :)
Feel genuinely sorry for BV no matter where he is from or who he plays for. Grow up children.......
Remind me again, who plays No.8 for Wales?
You know what they say about people in glass houses, you would do well to heed that.
I blame the Lions' coaches.
Oops!
So can you name the players England have 'trawled' from the SH (and those you claim have been taken from PI high schools)?
10 of your glorious "Welsh" players in the 2017 6 Nations were NOT born in Wales! This is a known fact. Pot, kettle methinks.
Every rugby nation does the same, be it France, Italy and especially NZ!
I would have to go with the heart and choose Wales because of the history with my family and myself growing up as a Welsh boy.
He acknowledges the England youth team looked after him well & respect to them for that.
As well as qualifying for a country I'd hope a player would also have some feeling of pride in playing for it too. Moriaty does but some are more mercenary