Billy Vunipola's Rugby World Cup dreams have been dashed as his season comes to an abrupt end due to a knee injury that requires surgery.
The Saracens No 8 sustained the injury while carrying the ball during his club's Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final match against La Rochelle in France on Sunday.
After being carried off the field on crutches, Vunipola underwent a scan which confirmed the severity of the injury. Saracens have announced that the 30-year-old will be sidelined for the rest of the 2022-23 season, leaving his World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.
The younger Vunipola brother's absence will be a significant blow to both Saracens and England as they will have to navigate the remainder of their campaigns without his formidable presence on the field.
The loss of Vunipola's powerful ball-carrying and dynamic play will be keenly felt, and his road to recovery will be closely watched by rugby fans and pundits alike as he works towards regaining his fitness and form.
Three England players who are blacklisted by Steve Borthwick – and why
Steve Borthwick has been brutal In his short time in charge of England, dropping a number of major stars ahead of the 2023 Six Nations.
Below, we look at three established stars who are unlikely to win another cap.
#1. Joe Marler
Age: 32
Position: Loosehead-prop
Caps: 83
Marler is unlikely to return to the England team during the 2023 Six Nations after he breached one of Steve Borthwick’s main rules.
The new England boss has a “no sh**talking policy” with England, whereby he expects players to behave appropriately on the pitch.
As a result, Marler was left out of the Six Nations squad despite his fine form with Harlequins this season.
Marler’s latest ban was for six weeks – four of them suspended – after accepting a charge regarding comments made to Bristol flanker Jake Heenan about his mother.
At this stage, an international return looks very unlikely.
Joe Marler of England Rugby during the Six Nations Championship match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 26th 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
DID YOU KNOW? Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees
#2. Billy Vunipola
Age: 30
Position: Number 8
Caps: 64
Borthwick excluded Powerhouse No8 Vunipola from the Six Nations squad, opting for Alex Dombrandt from Harlequins and Sam Simmons from Exeter as specialists.
Vunipola made a return to the England squad last summer under Eddie Jones and played in the autumn Test series.
However, in Borthwick's first selection, he made significant changes, resulting in Vunipola being among several experienced players left out.
With Zach Mercer set to return to England this summer, yet another recall for Billy is starting to look very unlikely.
Billy Vunipola of England in possession ahead of Kazuki Himeno of Japan during the Autumn International Series match between England and Japan at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on Saturday 12th November 2022 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.
DID YOU KNOW? He is the nephew of two other former international players, Manu and 'Elisi Vunipola, who both represented Tonga in the 1990s
#3. Jonny Hill
Age: 28
Position: Lock
Position: Lock
Caps: 13
A favorite of Eddie Jones, the Sale Sharks lock is in danger of losing his place on the England squad due to the emergence of Leicester Tigers’ Ollie Chessum.
Getting back into the England set-up will not be easy, as Northampton Saints’ David Ribbans is also playing well.
Fun fact: Hill is the nephew of former Rugby league international Paul Loughlin.
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