Vunipola ruled out of Wales match-up
LONDON: Mako Vunipola has been ruled out of England’s Six Nations international against Wales this weekend after going into self-isolation as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus.
England’s governing Rugby Football Union stressed that the Saracens prop was “not sick”, with the 29-year-old Vunipola understood to have flown back from Tonga via Hong Kong.
Vunipola was included in a 34-man training squad named by England coach Eddie Jones on Monday for Saturday’s match against Wales at Twickenham after recently travelling to Tonga for unspecified personal reasons.
But a RFU spokesperson said on Tuesday: “Mako is not in camp on medical grounds. He is not sick, but it is a precaution.”
Vunipola’s absence means Joe Marler and Ellis Genge will compete to be the starting loosehead prop against reigning Grand Slam champions Wales.
“We were excited to have him back, he is a great presence and a very experienced player, but we have great depth in our looseheads and they have been playing well,” said England forwards coach Matt Proudfoot earlier on Tuesday.
“We will give the guys a go who were there. Mako is a world-class player, but the guys have been doing a great job.”
Both Jones and Wales counterpart Wayne Pivac are due to name their teams for the latest Anglo-Welsh clash today.
France are the only team left in the 2020 Six Nations that can complete a Grand Slam.
But World Cup finalists England haven’t lost since being beaten by the French in their tournament opener and remain in title contention.
Wales, in their first season under Pivac after he succeeded fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland as coach following the World Cup, head to London looking to avoid a third straight loss having been defeated by Ireland and France.
TEST EVENT CANCALLED
Japan cancelled the Tokyo Olympics’ rugby test event yesterday in the latest disruption caused by the new coronavirus, which has raised concerns over whether the Games will go ahead on time.
Organisers said they couldn’t guarantee a safe running of the Asia Sevens Invitational, scheduled for April 25-26.
“As the impact of the novel coronavirus spreads across the world, we are not able to guarantee that the tournament will be held safely at this point,” Japan Rugby Football Union said.
The tournament’s demise comes after the Hong Kong and Singapore Sevens were postponed as chaos caused by the virus sweeps through the sporting calendar.
Olympics organisers said they would carry out a rugby test event “in some form” after “confirming it is safe to do so”.