Moon called into England camp

By Mark Stevens
28/8/19

Exeter Chiefs prop Ben Moon has been called back into the England squad as a temporary replacement for Mako Vunipola.

The Saracens forward has a small tear of scar tissue which will require approximately 10 days of rehabilitation. Vunipola sustained the injury as a second-half replacements during Saturday's 57-15 victory over Ireland at Twickenham Stadium.

Moon has travelled to Treviso in Italy to join up with the remainder of the England squad, which also includes club-mates Luke Cowan-Dickie, Henry Slade and Jack Nowell.

Cowan-Dickie has featured in all three of England's warm-up games ahead of next month's Rugby World Cup, but both Slade and Nowell have yet to play due to knee and ankle injuries respectively.

Slade is expected to return for England's final fixture against Italy on September 6 at St James' Park, but Nowell will again miss out as he continues his rehabilitation.

Chiefs' Director of Rugby Rob Baxter this week admitted the Cornishman's chances of playing in Japan are ‘touch and go’.

The 26-year-old injured his ankle in Exeter’s Premiership final defeat by Saracens in June, but was included in England’s 31-man squad.

“I think he’s going to be touch and go for involvement in the World Cup,” Baxter told BBC Radio Devon. “But let’s cross our fingers and hope that he can come through.”

England's first fixture of the tournament is against Tonga on September 22.