Billy Vunipola sidelined for four months

England international Billy Vunipola has been sidelined for four months following a knee injury that he sustained in the recent Aviva Premiership encounter at Allianz Park on Saturday.

The 24-year-old left the field at the stroke of half-time as his club Saracens completed a 41-13 win over Sale Sharks to claim a second position in the table.

Earlier, Vunipola withdrew from British and Irish Lions' tour of New Zealand due to a shoulder injury and the latest setback will keep him out of action for another four months.

As a result the 6 ft 2 in back-row will miss England's autumn international campaign against Argentina, Australia and Samoa and will also miss the start of Saracens' European Champions Cup defence.

"It's desperately disappointing for him, considering how hard he has worked during the off-season to get back to full fitness," Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said.

"Billy is a resilient character and he'll have a strong support network around him to get him back on the field in the best possible shape."

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