Rugby World Cup 2023: England wing Anthony Watson to miss tournament with calf injury
- Published
Anthony Watson played in England's warm-up game against Ireland on 19 August
England wing Anthony Watson has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup in France with a calf injury.
England head coach Steve Borthwick says Watson picked up the injury during last weekend's warm-up defeat by Ireland and will be out for a number of weeks.
No replacement has yet been named in Borthwick's 33-man squad but Jonny May is set to start on the wing against Fiji in Saturday's final warm-up match.
England begin their World Cup campaign against Argentina on 9 September.
"We are desperately disappointed for Anthony," Borthwick told BBC Sport.
"He is an important member of this squad and one that has enormous respect from everybody. He has had setbacks before and always worked through them and I know he'll be back on the field as soon as possible."
Watson, 29, has won 56 caps for England.
He played at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups and was a member of the British and Irish Lions tours to New Zealand and South Africa.
Meanwhile, utility back Elliot Daly has a knee injury and is unavailable for this weekend but is expected to be fit for the World Cup and wing Henry Arundell is recovering from a back spasm.
Flanker Tom Curry continues his recovery from an ankle injury and lock George Martin remains sidelined with a knee injury.
England have already lost scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet to an ankle injury for the tournament and he has been replaced in the squad by Alex Mitchell.
Borthwick has until 28 August to name his final squad.
'Most turbulent build-up ever'
Analysis - Chris Jones, BBC rugby union correspondent
This is surely the most turbulent build-up England have ever had before a Rugby World Cup, although events of 2011 - when the squad threatened to strike on the eve of the tournament over image rights payments - will run it close.
The performances on the pitch are cause for plenty of concern, with the side currently devoid of any cohesion and momentum, but off the pitch Steve Borthwick is dealing with suspensions to two of his most important players, while the injuries are stacking up.
Watson's torrid luck continues as he is ruled out of the tournament, with other back three players Elliot Daly and Henry Arundell also sidelined, George Martin another casualty, Tom Curry yet to play this August, and the likes of Ollie Chessum, Jack Walker and Kyle Sinckler also very short of game time.
Amid all this adversity, England desperately need a better performance against Fiji otherwise they risk limping - literally and metaphorically - into that crunch opener against Argentina.