April 21 2008

Jonny Wilkinson unavailable for New Zealand tour

Jonny Wilkinson will undergo shoulder surgery at the end of the season and will not be available for England's Gartmore Challenge against the Barbarians at Twickenham on June 1 or the two-test tour of New Zealand later that month.

The Newcastle Falcons fly half will have an operation to repair a long standing labral (cartilage) tear.

RFU Elite Rugby Director and Team Manager for the New Zealand tour Rob Andrew said: "We decided with Newcastle Falcons and Jonny that it was in his best interests to have this operation at the end of the season so that he can spend the summer rehabilitating. Of course we would have liked him to tour and we intend to take our strongest available squad but player welfare is important and in this case it's the right call for Jonny not to go to New Zealand."

England will name a 32-man squad for the tour to New Zealand on Tuesday May 13 as well as the England Saxons squad for the Barclays Churchill Cup. The squad for the Gartmore Challenge will be announced on Monday May 19, after the Guinness Premiership semi-finals.

England New Zealand tour matches

June 14 v New Zealand (Auckland), kick-off 7.35pm  (local time)
June 21 v New Zealand  (Christchurch), kick-off 7.35pm (local time)

England Saxons Barclays Churchill Cup matches

June 7 v USA (Ottawa), kick-off 2pm (local time)
June 14 v Ireland A  (Toronto), kick-off  2pm (local time)
June 21  Barclays Churchill Cup finals, Chicago, kick-off TBC

Ends...