England’s Vunipola ruled out of Six Nation’s match against Wales

Mako Vunipola has been ruled out of England’s Six Nations international against Wales this weekend with a “medical issue”, according to forwards coach Matt Proudfoot.

The Saracens prop was back in the fold after being included in a 34-man training squad named by coach Eddie Jones on Monday after recently travelling to Tonga for unspecified personal reasons.

But Proudfoot, speaking on Tuesday, said: “Mako is not with us now. He has got a medical issue so he won’t be available for the weekend.

“It is just something medical, so he is out for the weekend.”

Asked whether the 29-year-old Vunipola would play any further part in this season’s Six Nations, with England set to finish the Championship against Italy in Rome on March 14, Proudfoot added: “We will take it week by week.”

Vunipola’s absence means Joe Marler and Ellis Genge will compete to be the starting loosehead prop in Saturday’s match against reigning Grand Slam champions Wales at Twickenham.

“We were excited to have him back, he is a great presence and a very experienced player, but we have great depth in our looseheads and they have been playing well,” Proudfoot said.

“We will give the guys a go who were there. Mako is a world-class player, but the guys have been doing a great job.”

Both Jones and Wales counterpart Wayne Pivac are due to name their teams for the latest Anglo-Welsh clash on Thursday.

France are the only team left in the 2020 Six Nations that can complete a Grand Slam. But England haven’t lost since being beaten by the French in their tournament opener and remain in title contention.

Wale head to London looking to avoid a third straight loss having been defeated by Ireland and France.

Meanwhile, Wales will give injured flyhalf Dan Biggar as late as Friday morning to prove he’s fit and available to face England in Six Nations rugby on Saturday at Twickenham.

Biggar hyperextended his right knee last Saturday while on club duty for Northampton in the English Premiership. His club said it wasn’t serious, and Wales assistant coach Sam Warburton said on Tuesday that Biggar didn’t need a scan and the initial signs were positive he’d recover in time.

Associated Press