Vunipola’s injury curse strikes again as South Africa tour looms

No8 hurt three days after return from long break Saracens still hope he may make play-offs

Billy Vunipola’s injury nightmare continued yesterday when the Saracens No 8 pulled up with a hamstring problem halfway through a routine training session only three days after his long- awaited return from a broken arm. With the England squad for the tour to South Africa to be named a week today this latest setback could not have come at a worse time for the 25-year-old, who won the last of his 34 caps in March 2017, against Ireland in Dublin.

Vunipola has managed only two Tests in the past 17 months, missing the Lions tour to New Zealand as well. It is no coincidence that England’s fortunes have nosedived in the absence of the Saracen, who lends so much go-forward power to their game.

Head coach Eddie Jones will be monitoring bulletins on Vunipola’s progress closely as Vunipola has had a wretched 18 months, with knee and shoulder injuries. Last Sunday’s 20-minute cameo from the bench against London Irish took his total game time for the season to just 249 minutes.

At this stage, Saracens regard the hamstring issue as the type of problem that can crop up when a player is coming back from injury and has put extra strain on his body as he pushes for fitness.

Vunipola immediately went for treatment and is expected to miss the last game of the regular season at home to Gloucester on Saturday. Saracens are already through to the play-offs and will have a two-week break before their home semi-final against either Wasps or Newcastle Falcons on May 19.

Saracens director of rugby Mark Mccall is awaiting updates on Vunipola’s condition but refused to be too downbeat about his fitness for the play-offs.

“It is unlikely we would risk him this weekend,” said Mccall. “He had some awareness [tightness] in his hamstring last week but has trained well with us and looked good against London Irish. Nothing happened [in training]. Billy just felt some tightness. It is not pulled or anything.

“When you have been out for a very long time you try to get some volume into the legs. Billy was being sensible. It is mature of him not to try to plough on.

“We would not play him if we thought that he would pull a hamstring in a game. If we have to scan the hamstring, we will. That is likely to happen. The semi-final is 2½ weeks away so there is time.”

Jones is already missing players for the three-test South Africa tour. Out are hooker Dylan Hartley, locks Courtney Lawes and George Kruis, back-row forward Nathan Hughes, as well as backs Anthony Watson and Jonathan Joseph.