Billy Vunipola: England and Saracens number eight out for four months

Billy Vunipola leaves the field with a leg injury after 37 minutes — Billy Vunipola, who has 34 England caps, had just returned from a shoulder injury

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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105 comments

Comment posted by chopper24, at 15:51 24 Sep 2017
Absolutely gutting for him and England. Fingers crossed for a swift recovery.
Comment posted by King of Kings 7, at 16:30 24 Sep 2017
I think he'll be a bigger miss for England than Saracens. Another serious knee injury. I wonder how many he can take? Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.
Comment posted by HazyDavey, at 16:01 24 Sep 2017
2. Posted by I lika do da cha cha on
9 minutes ago
He's a fat slob

And you're an insignificant troll
Comment posted by Bodie, at 16:14 24 Sep 2017
All the best Billy, you will be missed
Comment posted by twsco, at 15:50 24 Sep 2017
Get well soon! A great player who's been unfortunate with injuries. Hope for a speedy recovery.
Comment posted by Huggie, at 15:57 24 Sep 2017
Hope this isn't a sign of being like Manu Tuilagi or his ex-Sarries teammate, Will Fraser. A whole heap of talent but injuries constantly ruining a lot of seasons.
Comment posted by Slonik, at 16:25 24 Sep 2017
Cue Paapaa and yet another irrational diatribe about England rugby and 'foreign' players, blah, blah, blah.

Get better soon Billy - Eddie and England need you as much as poor Paapaa needs something to make his life meaningful... :)
Comment posted by Slonik, at 16:40 24 Sep 2017
I see poor Paapaa's internet twin TheProphetEnoch has appeared with the same quality of debate. Their parents must be so proud of their contribution...
Comment posted by perfidiousalbion, at 20:41 24 Sep 2017
God this is pathetic. Apart from Argentina every country uses foreign born players. Just England seems to attract criticism ( from a bunch of hypocrites)
Feel genuinely sorry for BV no matter where he is from or who he plays for. Grow up children.......
Comment posted by charlieboy, at 21:23 24 Sep 2017
@71. Sounds like you are a kissball fan. Fat? You nor any prima donna would last 5 minutes on a rugby field.
Comment posted by Rich G, at 18:43 24 Sep 2017
Good god! This article is about a guy who us injured and out for 4 months not about where he is from! He's a good player regardless of where he is from and who he plays for.
Comment posted by D1710733872969, at 16:56 24 Sep 2017
@11 The Prophet Enoch

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.
Comment posted by doctorkmt, at 15:53 24 Sep 2017
Becoming fairly injury prone or just unlucky. One more injury and it's looking like he's falling apart? Too heavy, too committed for his own good/safety??
Comment posted by Selgwent, at 17:34 24 Sep 2017
Out for FOUR months?????
I blame the Lions' coaches.
Oops!
Comment posted by User0676266253, at 18:56 24 Sep 2017
@36 I think you'll find they too busy still laughing at Wales being knocked out by Western Samoa! I'm not sure losing to Wales and Australia equals that!

So can you name the players England have 'trawled' from the SH (and those you claim have been taken from PI high schools)?
Comment posted by Rich G, at 19:02 24 Sep 2017
The prophet.

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!
Comment posted by TheLastKingOfEngland, at 15:22 25 Sep 2017
@98 The big difference is, if the top footballers played a game of football against rugby players, the football players would win by a country mile. If the top footballers played a game of rugby against rugby players, the game would be abandoned at half time after there were no injury free footballers left.
Comment posted by DickythePig, at 19:04 24 Sep 2017
39. Thank you for the list. I am a little bit confused by your faux disgust though. They have all qualified by either having a parent/grandparent who was English or by the residency rules as laid down by World Rugby. North, Cuthbert, Davies, Faletau, Moriarty, King, Charteris, Ball to name but a few will obviously also attract your scorn yes? Or does your hypocrisy know no bounds.
Comment posted by Hopalongprop, at 00:30 25 Sep 2017
@83 Moriaty's own words:
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
Comment posted by scunnered, at 18:12 24 Sep 2017
Great player who makes the hard yards. Hope he recovers for the 6 Nations.