England No.8 Billy Vunipola has withdrawn from the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand with a shoulder injury.
England’s James Haskell will join the squad next Sunday following Wasps’ appearance in the Premiership final.
“It is really disappointing for Billy and we know how much he was looking forward to joining the squad,” Lions head coach Warren Gatland said.
“He has been carrying an injury and feels he wouldn’t be able to contribute fully to the tour and needs further medical treatment.
“We really appreciate his honesty in making this decision and wish him luck with his recovery.
“We have called up James to the squad, we wish him all the best next weekend and look forward to welcoming him into camp before we depart.”
The Lions start their 10-match tour against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei on June 3 and play the All Blacks in the first of three tests on June 24.
Vunipola’s older brother and Saracens team mate Mako is in the squad but the loss is regarded as a huge blow to the tourists.
Billy, who has 34 England caps, returned to international rugby in March after missing four months with a knee injury.
Described as a certainty for the Test side, he decided after playing in Saracens’ Premiership semi-final defeat by Exeter on Saturday that he was not fit enough for the demanding five-week tour.
Halfback Ben Youngs had already withdrawn from the squad after his sister-in-law was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Nope - but you knew that.
Kaizer
Roar Rookie
Absolutely gutted, I was looking forward to his battle with Read and also just to how he adapts his play to Gatlands style.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Probably so but that tends to be the case with Pacific Islanders. Most of the best are usually in the Pacific. Vunipola is fairly predictable, is largely crash and bash, doesnt have much of a wide running, passing and cover defensive game. Does that about cover it?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Loss of Vunipola is one player who was certain tonplay the one position. So many Lions have moved around for their countries that gats has to decide where theyre now more effective.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes another advantage for the NH teams with so many contracted SH imports. They get to play test quality players, the baa baas are stacked full of SH imports these days.
Colin N
Guest
Faletau's been injured for quite a lot of the season but he was getting back to his best for Bath. The fact that he's fresh should help him and the Lions. However, losing Vunipola is huge as I think he's a level above Faletau.
cuw
Guest
@ Neil Back xcuse him. it seems he only knows of the prop Vunipolla :) LOL " would not be unstoppable against Kaino, Franks, Moody and Charlie Faumuina... "
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
You speak like someone who either hasn't seen enough of Billy's game or didn't understand what you were watching.
Faith
Guest
The fact that B Vunipola is considered the greatest personnel loss for the Lions says a lot about NH game. This is NZ - there are a lot of hefty Pacific Higlanders in the game that most NZ players start playing against in age-grade and therefore toughen against them. Vunipola's effectiveness in NH would not be as considerable in NZ. The BILs needs very mobile loose fowards such as Ireland's ... Vunipola is terribly predictable and would not be unstoppable against Kaino, Franks, Moody and Charlie Faumuina. The BILs will need mobility not biff and bash. This could be a blessing in disguise ... you are not going to biff and bash your way to victory against the ABs ...
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yep, he sounds past his best as a few years ago was considered the best no.8 in the 4 home unions by many.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Our players are all still playing Super rugby so injuries are just part of the equation. If he was injured he probably shouldn't have played but once again, one of the necessary evils of a Lions or SH tour...clubs insistence in extracting the most out of their players pre tour, disrupting their prep. But in terms of playing every rugby player knows they want to be out there every week. Form is important going into this. Looks like they've played Billy V into the ground. He's not pulled out for a specific injury from the match, just the shoulder in general, which they obviously knew about beforehand.
Londoner
Guest
This is the problem with NH club rugby ahead of the Lions tour.... Prehaps he should not have been playing at all? The NH clubs are strong as economic entities though so this leads to issues like this All on all, prehaps a Lions tour year should be treated with more respect... At this rate Lions will struggle to win half their games on the tour...
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Toby Faletau is the nailed on starting '8' now.
cuw
Guest
29 players have assembled in Pennyhill Park on Sunday ahead of England's match against the Barbarians next Sunday at Twickenham. England squad Forwards (17): Josh Beaumont (Sale Sharks), Rob Buchanan (Harlequins), Will Collier (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Tom Ellis (Bath), Charlie Ewels (Bath), Jamal Ford-Robinson (Bristol), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors), Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors), Will Spencer (Worcester Warriors), Sam Underhill (Bath), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons) Backs (12): Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Nathan Earle (Saracens), George Ford (Bath), Mike Haley (Sale Sharks), Sam James (Sale Sharks), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Joe Marchant (Harlequins), Jonny May (Gloucester), Ryan Mills (Worcester Warriors), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes it is and they cant come here without their best. Injuries, tiredness, poor selection, the worst schedule imaginable... the usual Lions factors are falling into place.
jemainok
Guest
His work over the ball at the breakdown will surely be missed.
Old Bugger
Guest
On what I saw of the last 6N, I actually thought Haskell was playing some bloody good footy and perhaps unlucky, not to have been chosen in the original selection. Still, a big loss for the BILs but, JH or RM, wouldn't let the team down if they played, the tests.
moaman
Guest
Big shame that Vunipola isn't coming. He certainly draws defenders off the back and is just the sort of no-nonsense forward they need.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
In just about any other position I'd agree with you but a fully firing Billy would make that extra difference. Even heavily strapped in the Exeter Semi and clearly held together by tape, he was constantly knocking holes and drawing defenders. Very happy to see a tired looking Saracens lose that semi as I think they'd have wheeled him out again for the final.
Jacko
Guest
There is a bit of irony here....All the talk has been about how the ABs will cope with injuries and the first guy ruled out is a Lions player. He is a very good player but at the end of the day it is the Lions v the ABs.........No individual makes or breaks the series, its about 23 on game day and probably around 30 players for the 3 game test series. Its sad to see players lose an opportunity thru injury but the next bloke in line gets his shot. Bring it on...