Sunday 29 April 2018 19:14, UK
George Kruis has been ruled out of England's summer tour to South Africa, Saracens boss Mark McCall has confirmed.
The British and Irish Lions lock will undergo surgery to cure an ankle problem at the end of the current campaign, meaning he will miss June's three-Test series against the Springboks.
Kruis will be available for the remainder of Saracens' Aviva Premiership play-off run, but his summer surgery leaves England coach Eddie Jones without six front-line stars for the tour.
"He's not going to tour, no," Saracens rugby director McCall said after the 51-14 win over London Irish.
"He's going to have surgery at the end of the season."
But there was better news for the England coach after Billy Vunipola came off the bench against the Exiles at the Madejski Stadium to make his first appearance in three months.
Vunipola, who has not played Test rugby since March 2017, tasted his first action since breaking his arm in the 15-15 Champions Cup draw at Ospreys in January.
"It's good to get him back on the park," McCall said of Vunipola.
"We'll try to give him as much game time as we can next week and start him I'm sure against Gloucester next weekend, all being well.
"I don't think anyone sees it, but it was really tough when he broke his arm. He was very emotional straight after that.
"But he just believes that whatever will be will be, things happen for a reason but now he's back and doing what he likes best."
