Fractured forearm set to sideline Billy Vunipola for start of Six Nations
Eddie Jones’ side launch their campaign against Italy on February 4
Billy Vunipola is set to miss the start of England’s NatWest 6 Nations campaign after suffering a fractured forearm playing for Saracens against Ospreys on Saturday.
Saracens confirmed the injury in a short statement on the club’s official website, leaving England boss Eddie Jones to plan for a likely campaign without the experienced number eight.
“Billy is due to see a specialist later this week, when a time-frame for recovery may be defined. But until that time Saracens will make no further comment. Saracens will issue a further statement once Billy has seen a specialist.”
He is already braced for the unavailability of forward James Haskell, who was shown a red card in Wasps’ 33-28 Champions Cup defeat to Harlequins on Saturday.
The flanker has just been restored to Jones’ extended squad after emerging from a spell of indifferent form and would have been in the champions’ plans for Rome and beyond.
Meanwhile Vunipola faces a further spell on the sidelines, with the draw against Ospreys marking only his second comeback game after a three-month absence with knee trouble.
