TNT Sports
Saracens and England number eight Billy Vunipola’s 2023 World Cup in doubt after season-ending knee injury
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Published 12/04/2023 at 17:37 GMT+1
Billy Vunipola is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after he suffered a knee injury during Saracens’ Champions Cup quarter-final defeat. The Saracens and England number eight will miss the remainder of the domestic season, and the injury has thrown his World Cup chances into doubt. England are set to get their World Cup campaign under way against Argentina on Saturday, September 9 in France.
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Saracens and England number eight Billy Vunipola will miss the rest of the domestic season after suffering a knee injury, and is a doubt for the 2023 World Cup in France.
Vunipola picked up the injury during the first half of Saracens’ Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final defeat at La Rochelle on Sunday.
He was stretchered off following the injury and was seen departing Stade Marcel Deflandre on crutches.
Saracens were beaten 24-10 as Mark McCall’s side bowed out of the European tournament.
Although Saracens haven’t confirmed how long Vunipola will be sidelined for, he is expected to miss the remainder of the current campaign.
In a statement on social media, Saracens wrote: “Billy Vunipola suffered a knee injury during Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against La Rochelle.
“He will therefore miss the remainder of the 2022/23 season.”
The former Wasps player has played 67 times for England, but has not represented his country since November last year and did not feature in the recent Six Nations.
Vunipola has been tipped to be reinstated to the back row for the World Cup on the basis of the ball-carrying power he provides, by former Wales and British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton.
The 30-year-old’s absence means he will miss the final three games of Saracens’ season, which are against Northampton Saints, London Irish and Bath, as well as the Gallagher Premiership semi-final and final, if Saracens advance to that stage.
England’s World Cup campaign kicks off against Argentina on Saturday, September 9, and they will play Japan, Chile and Samoa in the group stages in addition to the opener against Michael Cheika’s side.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup, held in France, takes place between September 8 and October 28.
South Africa will be defending champion after they beat England in the 2019 final.
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