Jonny Wilkinson will likely miss England’s autumn Tests against Australia, New Zealand and Samoa after having his appendix removed.
The Newcastle flyhalf had the operation on Friday and will be sidelined for up to six weeks.
”I think it pretty much puts paid to the autumn internationals, so it will most likely be over two years that he hasn’t played for England,” Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew said on Monday.
Wilkinson hasn’t played for England since his World Cup-winning drop goal in November 2003 because of shoulder, neck, arm and knee injuries.
England host Australia on November 12, New Zealand on November 19 and Samoa on November 26 at Twickenham. — Sapa-AP