Jamie George set to play for Saracens this weekend as hooker pushes for place on England tour

  • Saracens hooker set to return from injury against Worcester on Saturday
  • George ruptured the bicep of his right arm during training with England
  • Huge boost for England coach Eddie Jones ahead of tour to Australia

Jamie George will make a ‘magical’ early return from injury for Saracens in the Aviva Premiership on Saturday as they mount their challenge for a domestic and European double before England’s summer tour to Australia.

The 25-year-old hooker ruptured the bicep of his right arm in training with England during their Six Nations campaign seven weeks ago and was forced to miss victories over Wales and France which sealed the Grand Slam for Eddie Jones’s men.

George, England’s second-choice hooker behind captain Dylan Hartley, had not been expected to return before the middle of May but Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall says he will face Worcester on Saturday, putting him in contention for the European Champions Cup final against Racing Metro on May 14.

Jamie George set to return from injury for Saracens against Worcester in the Aviva Premiership on Saturday

Jamie George set to return from injury for Saracens against Worcester in the Aviva Premiership on Saturday

‘Jamie’s going to start this weekend,’ said McCall. ‘He’s come through two or three weeks ahead of schedule, which is a great job by our medical team.

‘It’s massive because Jamie was on great form before that injury came along. It’s magic to have him back for the business end of the season.’

With a home Premiership semi-final already guaranteed, top-of-the-table Saracens are expected to rest a number of key players for the away game against Worcester ahead of the Champions Cup final in Lyons.

The hooker ruptured the bicep of his right arm in training with England during their Six Nations campaign

The hooker ruptured the bicep of his right arm in training with England during their Six Nations campaign

With doubts persisting over Hartley’s participation in England’s summer tour as he battles back from the concussion he suffered against France in Paris on March 19, George’s return to fitness is also a boost for Jones.

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder is unlikely to risk Hartley against Gloucester at Kingsholm, meaning he will not have played any rugby in more than eight weeks.

McCall added: ‘Schalk Brits’s injury last year allowed Jamie to play and he benefited from that. He’s a really good player and a set-piece hooker who is brilliant around the park.’

 

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