Lock out of tests

Rugby:

Lock Joe Launchbury will miss England’s tests next month after knee surgery which rules him out for up to 12 weeks. Launchbury injured his knee playing for Wasps on September 16 in the English Premiership, and hasn’t played since. At the time, scans showed no structural damage but he has been receiving injections to ease the swelling. He became an England stalwart in the second row not long after his debut in 2012, and has forged a partnership with Maro Itoje since 2016, when Eddie Jones became coach. Launchbury has 54 caps, but will miss England’s matches next month against South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Australia.