London: Billy Vunipola dealt the British and Irish Lions a huge blow after it was announced Sunday that the powerhouse England back-row was pulling out of the upcoming tour of New Zealand due to a shoulder injury.
The No. 8 has been a mainstay for both England in their back-to-back Six Nations title wins and in also helping London club Saracens to consecutive European Champions Cup crowns this season.
But all the while, he has been trying to manage a shoulder injury.
The 24-year-old put in another mammoth 80-minute effort during Saracens’ 18-16 English Premiership semi-final defeat by Exeter on Saturday, a match that turned out to be his last of the season as the reigning domestic champions fell short in their quest for a ‘double Double’.
“It is really disappointing for Billy and we know how much he was looking forward to joining the squad,” said Lions coach Warren Gatland in a statement issued by the combined side.
“He has been carrying an injury and feels he wouldn’t be able to contribute fully to the Tour and needs further medical treatment.”
The New Zealander added: “We really appreciate his honesty in making this decision and wish him luck with his recovery.”
Vunipola returned to the England set-up in March for the Six Nations after four months out with a knee injury.
His place in the squad for the 10-match Lions tour, which includes three Tests against the world champion All Blacks, will be taken by England teammate James Haskell.
However, Wasps star Haskell must first come through the May 27 Premiership final against Exeter at Twickenham unscathed before joining up with the Lions.
This would have been Vunipola’s first Lions tour, with all his 34 Test appearances to date coming with England.
He had hoped to join brother Mako, the Saracens and England prop who featured in the Lions’ victorious tour of Australia four years ago, on the plane to New Zealand.
Haskell had been due to tour Argentina with England next month but his call-up by Gatland leaves Red Rose boss Eddie Jones short of yet another experienced player, with 15 members of his regular squad now on Lions duty.
“We have called up James to the squad, we wish him all the best next weekend and look forward to welcoming him into camp before we depart,” added Gatland.
Gatland’s men leave for New Zealand on Monday, May 29, with their opening tour match just days later against a Provincial Union XV in Whangarei on June 3 as they bid to become only the second Lions side after the celebrated 1971 team to win a series in New Zealand.
This year’s first Test is in at the All Blacks’ Eden Park fortress — where New Zealand have not lost since 1994 — in Auckland on June 24.
