Billy Vunipola to miss first month of new season

England international Billy Vunipola will miss the first month of the Aviva Premiership season for Saracens as he continues his recovery from a shoulder injury.

The Saracens back-row pulled out of the recently concluded British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand after deciding to undergo a surgery on his shoulder and the club's rugby director Mark McCall believes he is unlikely to return before October.

"Billy's due back some time in October, but in true Billy style he'll make it back considerably before that," said McCall.

"He's in great condition at the moment and chomping at the bit.

"I'll be told by the medics when we can pick him but it won't be long."

George Kruis, Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and Liam Williams were the Saracens contingent, who had a gruelling tour of New Zealand while representing the Lions.

With Saracens set to open the new season against Northampton at Twickenham on 2nd September, McCall insisted that a decision on involving the players in the initial stage will be taken after assessing their individual situation.

"We've got a game coming up in 10 days and we need to take a long view with most of them," said McCall.

"To rush them back too early if we didn't have to would be a mistake in a couple of cases.

"But where the team needs that to happen then it may be that we need to bring one or two back for the first game.

"You need to look back over the past couple of seasons and who played how many minutes.

"A couple of players didn't play that much last year.

"Someone like George Kruis didn't play in the last two Lions Test matches, others missed a bit of rugby.

"With Mako (Vunipola) and Owen (Farrell) we have some tough choices to make.

"As a club we're not looking to get our pound of flesh. We're looking at the welfare of the player.

"I'm trying to make good choices based on good reasons as to when they come back."