Billy Vunipola

Saracens hopeful over Vunipola

The powerful back-row forward returned from a fractured forearm suffered in January to feature in the 51-14 victory over London Irish on Sunday.

There were fears the 25-year-old had swiftly fallen victim to yet another fitness setback after he experienced an issue on Wednesday.

And while Vunipola is indeed set to miss Saturday's regular-season Premiership finale against Gloucester, Saracens' director of rugby McCall claimed his star should be back for the team's subsequent last-four showdown against Newcastle Falcons or Wasps. 

Vunipola suffers fractured arm

The back-row only returned from a three-month spell on the sidelines with a knee injury in the Premiership victory against Wasps last weekend and suffered another cruel setback at the Liberty Stadium.

Vunipola was replaced at half-time in the Champions Cup clash, which ended 15-15, and Saracens on Sunday revealed that an X-ray showed he had fractured his forearm, just three weeks before England start the defence of their Six Nations title against Italy in Rome.

McCall hails 'extraordinary' Vunipola

Vunipola had not featured for Sarries since suffering a knee injury in September and was reportedly in danger of missing the start of the Six Nations next month.

His return in Sunday's impressive victory put any doubts about his participation with England to bed as he produced a trademark all-action display at the Ricoh Arena.

And that was a joy to behold for McCall, who also welcomed back Maro Itoje from a broken jaw.

"I thought he [Vunipola] was great," the club's director of rugby told BT Sport.

Billy Vunipola: Saracens and England player would take pay cut to avoid burnout

Vunipola learned on Sunday he will be out for four months after injuring a knee during Sarries' defeat of Sale.

The 24-year-old had only recently returned after a year blighted by knee and shoulder problems, the latter forcing him out of the Lions tour.

Speaking prior to his latest setback, he said "something has to change".

"I didn't enjoy being on the surgery table twice in one year and that's supposed to be deemed as normal," he told BBC Radio 5 live's Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

Vunipola back in October

The barnstorming number eight missed the British and Irish Lions tour due to the injury, having returned from a four-month layoff due to a knee problem in March.

Sarries director of rugby Mark McCall confirmed the England international is not scheduled to return until October, although he did not rule out Vunipola playing before then.

"He's in great condition at the moment and chomping at the bit," McCall said.

"Billy's due back some time in October, but in true Billy style he'll make it back considerably before that. 

Vunipola out of Lions tour

Vunipola had been nursing the injury throughout the Aviva Premiership while playing for Saracens.

England backrower James Haskell will replace Vunipola and will join the camp following the Premiership final this weekend.

Vunipola, who was born in Australia, has played 34 tests for England and was expected to be the starting number eight for the Lions in their three-test series against the All Blacks.

Lions coach Warren Gatland said he was disappointed for Vunipola, who had been looking forward to joining the squad

VIDEO: 2015 Rugby World Cup Daily round-up

Vunipola has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a knee ligament strain.

Harlequins number eight Nick Easter, 37, who has 52 Test caps, has been called up as a replacement.

England have played two games in the World Cup. They beat Fiji 35-11 followed by a defeat against Wales on Saturday,

They are third in Pool A and face Australia at Twickenham on Saturday and Uruguay a week later, with the top two progressing to the quarter-finals.