BILLY’S EDD-ING BACK SOON

BILLY VUNIPOLA is set to miss the start of the Premiership season – but should be fit for the autumn internationals.

The Saracens No.8 (left) sat out the British and Irish Lions tour in New Zealand to have shoulder surgery and will not be ready for the Premiership opener against Northampton on September 2. But club boss Mark McCall has predicted the 24-year-old will be back in plenty of time for England’s upcoming autumn campaign.

McCall said: “Billy is due back some time in October, but in true Billy style, he will make it back before that.

“He is champing at the bit, but it won’t be long.”

England coach Eddie Jones has hinted that he may rest some of the Red Roses’ Lions – such as Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje – for the autumn Tests after their long summer.

McCall added: “We have had conversations and he’s taking the long view and thinking about the World Cup in 2019 – it’s not all on the autumn of 2017.”