Wednesday 21 March 2018 07:13, UK
Billy Vunipola is facing a "race against time" to be fit for Saracens' Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster, director of rugby Mark McCall has revealed.
The England No 8 fractured his arm in January, missing the Six Nations as a result, but was pencilled in to return in time for the trip to Dublin on April 1.
It was the latest setback of a torrid 18-month spell that also included substantial lay-offs due to knee and shoulder surgery and McCall will not gamble on his fitness against Leinster.
"It's a little bit uncertain, Billy is in a race against time to be ready for the quarter-final," McCall said.
"We'll make a call on what the surgeon says. If the arm isn't right to play then we won't risk him. He's been injured enough, we don't want to reinjure him.
"Billy is very close to coming back but whether he makes the quarter-final we're not sure yet."
Vunipola's comeback is being monitored carefully by England, who sorely missed him during their fifth-placed finish in the Six Nations that was sealed by a 24-15 defeat to Ireland on Saturday.
Nathan Hughes filled the 25-year-old's boots for two matches only to suffer a knee injury that required surgery, while Sam Simmonds started three games.
England embark on a three-Test tour of South Africa in June and the return of Vunipola would be a huge boost for Eddie Jones' under-performing squad.
