England star to miss NZ and Bok clashes

NEWS: Saracens have confirmed that Jamie George will miss the upcoming Nations Series in November with England following an injury to his foot during last Saturday’s stunning Premiership win over Leicester.

The seasoned hooker was to the fore of putting the top-flight champions to the sword and looked in top form in what was his third appearance of the club season.

However, George didn’t return to take his place for the second half with Saracens and was instead seen on the bench nursing his foot. Having been selected last week in the England training squad that was to assemble for a three-day camp in London at the start of this week, the RFU confirmed on Sunday that George had dropped out.

With Test rookie Jack Walker also pulling out of the squad, England boss Eddie Jones reacted by calling up Newcastle’s George McGuigan and Gloucester’s Jack Singleton and now, two days later, the true extent of the injury to George has been revealed.

"Jamie George suffered a foot injury during the match against Leicester Tigers," read a Saracens statement. "It is expected that he will be out for around ten weeks, returning in early December."

The injury is a cruel blow for the soon-to-be 32-year-old. It was this time last year when he was overlooked by Jones for the England Nations Series but an injury to Luke Cowan-Dickie offered a lifeline that he impressively grasped with both hands.

George went on to start two of last November’s matches and despite getting injured against Australia, he battled his way back to fitness over the winter to start in three of his five Six Nations appearances earlier this year. He then went on to be the England No.2 for all three tour matches away to Australia.

However, with his return from this latest injury only set to happen in December, George will now be marked absent when England host Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in their four-game November programme at Twickenham.

@RugbyPass