Rugby World Cup: England wing Anthony Watson ruled out of tournament with calf injury
England wing Anthony Watson is out of the Rugby World Cup due to a calf injury
England wing Anthony Watson has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup due to a calf problem.
Watson picked up the injury in last week’s warm-up defeat to Ireland and has now been withdrawn from the 33-player squad.
The 29-year-old is the second England player to be forced out of the tournament in recent weeks, with scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet absent due to an ankle issue.
Jonny May will start for England against Fiji on Saturday
Gloucester’s Jonny May will start Saturday’s warm-up match against Fiji in Watson’s absence, although he has not been added to the World Cup party as of yet, with head coach Steve Borthwick to confirm Watson’s replacement next week.
England will be without captain and fly-half Owen Farrell and No 8 Billy Vunipola for the start of the competition after both were handed suspensions for high tackles.
Farrell will sit out the games against Argentina on September 9 and Japan eight days later, while Vunipola will miss the Argentina fixture.
Watson was injured in last week’s defeat to Ireland
On Watson’s injury, Borthwick said: “In the game against Ireland, Anthony Watson suffered an injury to his calf which means he can’t play for a number of weeks,
“As such he will not be part of the 33 that travels to France next week. We’re all really disappointed for him.”
Borthwick expects Watson’s fellow backs Elliot Daly (knee) and Henry Arundell (back) to be fit for the World Cup after both were ruled out of the Fiji fixture.
Borthwick also revealed that flanker Tom Curry (ankle) will soon resume full training after missing England’s entire World Cup warm-up programme.
