The British and Irish Lions squad preparing to head to New Zealand has suffered a massive blow with the withdrawal of England’s Billy Vunipola because of injury. The Saracens’ no
Asdrubal Cabrera Jersey 8 has a damaged shoulder which requires further treatment, forcing head coach Warren Gatland to call up Wasps’ James Haskell instead.Vunipola was among the key forwards in Gatland’s armoury, having become an increasingly mature force for both club and country. He played the full 80 minutes in his side’s 18-16 defeat to Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Saturday but has since
[img width=118,height=118]http://www.authenticcapitalshop.com/images//nhl_jerseys_new/washington_capitals/capitals_226.jpg[/img] informed the Lions management he feels unable to join the tour party, who are due to fly out next Monday.“It is really disappointing for Billy and we know how much he was looking forward to joining the squad, “ said Gatland. “He has been carrying an injury, 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.”The Lions can still call on Wales no 8 Taulupe Faletau and Ireland’s CJ Stander, with Gloucester’s Ross Moriarty another possible Test alternative, but there is no question the 24-year-old Vunipola’s absence will be keenly felt on and off the field. His brother Mako remains available but there are few back-rowers anywhere in the world with Billy’s compelling mix of power and exuberance. He missed the bulk of the Six Nations championship with a knee ligament injury sustained on club duty but played a central role in
http://www.authenticnewyorkmets.com/Asdrubal-Cabrera-Jersey Saracens’ successful defence of their European Champions’ Cup title against Clermont Auvergne in Edinburgh.Rather than turn to the experienced Irish Lion Jamie Heaslip, Gatland has instead plumped for Haskell, who has previously never been on a Lions tour and will join the squad next Sunday following the Aviva Premiership Final. The flanker has played provincial rugby in New Zealand and can be relied upon to throw himself whole-heartedly into the fray whenever the opportunity arises. Other specialist No 8s such as Wasps’ Fijian-reared forward Nathan Hughes have, for now, been passed over but the attrition rate in modern rugby is such that every half-fit forward should probably keep his phone on.The news will certainly cast a shadow over this week’s training camp at Carton House near Dublin, where 30 players will be in attendance. Routine medical screening of the squad will be conducted over the next 24 hours, with Gatland due to give a further update later on Monday.Vunipola, who has 34 caps, is the second England international to withdraw from the originally-selected squad, with Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs having pulled out because his brother Tom’s wife Tiffany is seriously ill. Youngs has been replaced by Scotland’s captain Greig Laidlaw, with Gatland clearly opting for experienced cover wherever possible. The Lions are due to arrive in New Zealand a week on Wednesday and play their first fixture in Whangarei on Saturday week.New Zealand also have their own injury concerns with Kieran Read, Dane Coles and Ben Smith among key players who have spent time on the sidelines lately. The Lions have only won one series in New Zealand, in 1971, and were defeated 3-0 the last time they encountered the All Blacks
Authentic Jason Demers Youth Jersey in 2005.Eddie Jones has revealed that Denny Solomona is likely to miss England’s tour to Argentina due to a foot injury after omitting the New Zealand-born wing from his squad to face the Barbarians next Sunday.Solomona will be further assessed on Monday but Jones, who has handed a surprise call-up to Richard Wigglesworth, conceded he was not optimistic over the 23-year-old, who has scored 11 tries in 15 matches for Sale since his controversial cross-code transfer in December.Marland Yarde and Mike Haley are also in the 29-man squad preparing to face the Baa-Baas and are standing by to go to Argentina in place of Solomona, who qualified to represent England in March having completed the required three-year residency period. “He’s got a mid-foot strain. It puts him in doubt [for Argentina],” Jones said.“He’s going to see a specialist tomorrow and we’ll know definitely then. We’re not hopeful, we believe it’ll be pretty doubtful that he goes on tour. It’s bad luck for the kid because he did really well
http://www.officialpanthersonlinestore.com/Jonathan_Huberdeau_Jersey in the couple of training sessions I saw him. He’s a nice boy and he’s got potential to be a good player for us.”Last October Anthony Watson, Jack Nowell and Sam Jones all picked up injuries in a training camp on the south coast and Jones said: “It’s Brighton mate, they all happen at Brighton.”With Solomona’s injury, Exeter, Wasps, Northampton
Curtis Granderson Authentic Jersey and London Irish all still in action this week and Piers Francis only joining the squad in Argentina, Jones is still without 15 of the 31-man touring party he named last month. He has, however, been boosted by the availability of the Bath-bound flanker Sam Underhill, Leicester’s Ellis Genge and the Saracens pair Alex Lozowski and Nick Isiekwe, while Wigglesworth is selected in an England squad for the first time since the 2015 World Cup. He replaces the New Zealand-born Willi Heinz, whose inclusion in the Brighton camp raised a few eyebrows.“It’s an opportunity to have a look at him and that’s what the Baa-Baas game is for,” said Jones, who will name a new captain with Dylan Hartley still on club duty with Northampton. “He’s always been a good player; I think he’s been playing a little bit better. I’ve always felt that, if we needed another senior half-back, we’d have a look at him and nothing has changed there.”Asked if the 33-year-old Wigglesworth needed any persuasion to join the squad, Jones said: “I’ve spoken to him a few times previously. It’s a normal thing, when you’re English and play English club rugby, you want to play for England. Only one player has knocked me back. I won’t name him but you can work it out for yourself, he’s playing in France.”Wigglesworth will not go to Argentina except as an injury replacement – Danny Care has been nursing a stomach problem but is due to return to full training on Monday – with Jones confirming he will not change the squad he named last month unless he needs to.Last week Jones lamented that he was working with some players that were “seventh or eighth choice” in their positions and, while he has been boosted by the availability of losing Premiership and Pro12 semi-finalists, add in the 15 players in camp with the British & Irish Lions and Jones’s squad for the team to face the Barbarians still has a rookie feel to it. At hooker, for example, with no Hartley or Luke Cowan-Dickie, he must choose between the uncapped Rob Buchanan and Jack Singleton.
