Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Launchbury ruled out of England Six Nations opener

Joe Launchbury (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

England enter their Guinness Six Nations opener against France without Joe Launchbury after the Wasps captain was ruled out by a knee problem.

ADVERTISEMENT

Launchbury sustained the injury in the 27-0 Challenge Cup defeat by Bordeaux-Begles a week ago and will sit out the trip to Paris on February 2.

The 28-year-old is receiving treatment at the squad’s Algarve training base and it is hoped he will recover in time for the Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland in round two.

Launchbury was a member of Eddie Jones’ World Cup squad last autumn but made only one appearance, against the USA. Even if fit, the 62-cap second row was unlikely to be involved in the matchday 23 against France.

The trip to Paris will be Simon Amor’s first match as England’s new attack coach following seven years as Twickenham’s sevens supremo, a reign that includes masterminding Team GB’s silver medal at the 2016 Olympics.

(Continue reading below…)

New Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber fronts up to the media

Video Spacer

Amor, whose only XV tracksuit experience was with London Scottish, takes over from Scott Wisemantel having overseen sessions in the build-up to the World Cup.

“Eddie and I had some conversations before Japan. It was wonderful to get the opportunity to work in that environment and we finalised things afterwards,” Amor said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I feel very lucky. This is a tremendous opportunity to work with a brilliant group of players and a master coach. It’s really important for me to recognise the huge growth this team has made in attack since Scott Wisemantel came on board.

“As someone who has been doing sevens for the last seven years, watching how England have evolved was great.

“Where can I add value to the team? Sevens is all about space and time. Of course, the fundamentals are important but also knowing that if you get things wrong in sevens you concede tries.

ADVERTISEMENT

“So how do you put people under pressure and challenge them to grow in that way? That’s where I feel we can make some great progress.

“Working in sevens gives you a different perspective and adds to the blend of the coaching team, which is really important in any coaching team.”

Press Association 

WATCH: Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika makes a surprise cross-code switch

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 42 | Investec Champions Cup Final Review

Saitama Wildknights vs Kubota Spears | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Semi Final Replay

Spain's Incredible Rugby Sevens Journey to the World Championship Final | HSBC SVNS Embedded | Episode 14

Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
Solenn Bonnet 16 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

WhatsApp.. +15617263697

website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

Telegram.. +15617263697

0 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ 'Owen Farrell's season may have been a disaster but it has not diminished interest around him' 'Owen Farrell's season may have been a disaster but it has not diminished interest around him'
Search