England lock Joe Launchbury has been ruled out of their Six Nations opener against France next weekend because of a knee problem.
The 28-year-old Wasps captain picked up the knock in the Challenge Cup defeat by Bordeaux-Begles last weekend but he’s failed to shake it off and will not be available for the trip to Paris.
Launchbury hopes to be fit for the Calcutta Cup match with Scotland on February 8th, although the lock has struggled for minutes in an England shirt in recent rime..
He was part of England’s World Cup squad last autumn but made only one appearance, against the USA.