ENGLAND are preparing to face Scotland in the Six Nations, but will be without a key man. Saracens number 8 Billy Vunipola will play no part in the competition, it has been announced. Why is Billy Vunipola not playing for England in the Six Nations? Billy Vunipola will miss out on England’s Six Nations campaign […]
ENGLAND are preparing to face Scotland in the Six Nations, but will be without a key man.
Saracens number 8 Billy Vunipola will play no part in the competition, it has been announced.
Billy Vunipola will miss out on England’s Six Nations campaign after breaking his arm for Saracens against Racing 92 in the Champions Cup.
The 27-year-old was forced off just seven minutes into the game, which Sarries would ultimately win 27-24 despite having Will Skelton sent off.
Vunipola has now suffered a broken arm four times in his career, with two breaks to each arm.
Saracens have not issued an update as to when Vunipola will come back from injury.
But on previous occasions he has been kept out for as much as four months with a broken arm.
Sarries will no doubt be keen to have Vunipola back for their Champions Cup quarter-final at Leinster on April 4, but even that could be a stretch.
However there will not be too much pressure on him to return quickly as Saracens play no meaningful matches until that game in Dublin, as they have been relegated from the Premiership.
Sale flanker Tom Curry is expected to fill in at number 8 for England after Vunipola was ruled out.
Eddie Jones does not favour Exeter’s Sam Simmonds as a like-for-like replacement and has not called him up, reportedly due to a lack of size.
Bristol Bears’ Nathan Hughes has filled in for Vunipola in the past but misses out on the squad this time due to a lack of form.
Vunipola’s understudy at Saracens, Ben Earl, has been called up to the squad and could come into consideration for some matches.
