FROM BAD TO CURSE FOR BILLY
Injury-hit Vunipola limps out of training, now he’s doubt for summer Tests
ENGLAND are sweating on the fitness of Billy Vunipola for the tour to South Africa after their star forward’s injury jinx struck again. Three days after returning from a broken arm, the No.8 was hit by a hamstring problem while training with Saracens. He immediately pulled out of the session and was withdrawn from media interviews he was due to give. Vunipola has had a wretched 15 months, struggling with knee and shoulder injuries and breaking his arm just before the Six Nations. “We are just very disappointed for him,” said team-mate Alex Goode. “Given everything he’s been through, it’s obviously very tough. He’s worked incredibly hard to get back. He’s someone we all love to bits.” Saracens refused to panic but boss Mark McCall admitted: “We won’t play Billy if we think he will pull his hamstring. “He is unlikely to play against Gloucester this weekend. He has a bit of awareness in his hamstring. It hasn’t pulled or anything, he just felt some tightness. If we have to scan it we will. ” Eddie Jones names his squad a week today for the three-Test series against the Springboks and will be desperate to get Vunipola back. Without him England have lost their way, crashing to three straight defeats and their worst Six Nations finish for 35 years.
In all, the 25-year-old has played just 249 minutes of rugby since last May – shoulder, knee and arm injuries robbing him of eight England caps and a Lions tour.
McCall added: “When you have been out for a very long time, like Billy has been, you try to get some volume in his legs.
“He has done that for months now. Then it is into rugby sessions which are a little bit different. He looked good until he had to stop.”
Elliot Daly, who hurt a shoulder playing for Wasps on Sunday, hopes to play at Newcastle this weekend after boss Dai Young revealed: “It was a collision injury not a structural one.”
Sale last night confirmed they will not be signing sacked Ulster duo Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding, who had their contracts terminated last month despite being found not guilty at the end of a rape trial.
“Sale Sharks can confirm there is no substance to the rumours circulating” said a club statement. “Our search continues for top-class players to bolster the squad for next season.”