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Joe Launchbury: Wasps and England lock to miss British and Irish Lions tour with serious knee injury

<p>Wasps lock Joe Launchbury suffered a knee injury against Bath</p> (Getty Images)

Wasps lock Joe Launchbury suffered a knee injury against Bath

(Getty Images)

England lock Joe Launchbury requires surgery on a serious knee injury that will rule him out of this summer’s British and Lions tour of South Africa and perhaps the remainder of 2020.

Experienced second-row Launchbury had to be helped from the pitch before half-time in Wasps’ 39-29 Premiership win over Bath on Sunday, and subsequent scans have revealed the extent of the injury.

“Joe Launchbury sustained a complete rupture of his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) during Sunday’s game against Bath Rugby," Wasps confirmed on Tuesday.

"He has had a consultation with a knee specialist, who has confirmed that he will require surgery. Everyone at Wasps wishes Joe all the best for a speedy recovery.”

Launchbury, who has been capped 69 times by England, missed the recent Six Nations with a stress fracture of the tibia and has never previously toured with the Lions.

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