England: Billy Vunipola 'positive' about chances of making World Cup after surgery

Billy Vunipola has not played since injuring his genu connected Saracens work connected 9 April

England fig 8 Billy Vunipola says his prospects of playing astatine the World Cup are "positive" aft undergoing genu surgery.

"I recognize precisely what needs to beryllium done implicit the adjacent fewer weeks," helium said.

Players from Sale and Saracens are besides absent, portion Beno Obano and Will Joseph are dropped.

Vunipola added: "The aesculapian squad are affirmative astir my prospects."

Bath loose-head prop Obano and caller Harlequins centre Joseph driblet retired arsenic the squad is chopped from 38 to 36 players.

Players from Saracens and Sale who featured successful the Premiership last volition beryllium added to the grooming squad erstwhile their five-week remainder play elapses astatine the extremity of this week.

Ollie Chessum, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ollie Lawrence and Jack Walker stay successful campy to proceed their rehabilitation from injury.

England statesman a four-Test summertime bid against Wales connected 5 August and volition besides play Fiji and Ireland earlier their World Cup run gets nether mode with a Pool D gathering against Argentina successful Marseille connected 9 September.

England brag Steve Borthwick is owed to denote his 33-man squad for the World Cup On 7 August.

The tournament, which volition beryllium hosted by France, starts connected 8 September.

England squad

Forwards: Jamie Blamire, Dan Cole, Alex Dombrandt, Tom Dunn, Charlie Ewels, Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes, Ted Hill, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Joe Marler, George Martin, Zach Mercer, Tom Pearson, Val Rapava-Ruskin, David Ribbans, Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill.

Backs: Henry Arundell, Danny Care, Joe Cokanasiga, Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, Joe Marchant, Jonny May, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Guy Porter, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet, Anthony Watson, Ben Youngs.

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