Injury hurts Jonny Wilkinson’s chances

Jonny Wilkinson has been forced to rest because of a torn groin muscle, almost certainly putting paid to any hopes of a late Lions call-up.

The former England fly-half revealed he underwent an “operational injection” this week and has been unable to train since.

Wilkinson (above) has played on two Lions tours but is now unlikely to be available for service should Warren Gatland require injury cover.

“I had to go in for a procedure on my groin on Monday that is going to keep me out for a couple of weeks,” Wilkinson told the Daily Mail. “It is called an operational injection, a blood replacement injection, on a torn muscle I had in my left groin and upper part of my leg.

“It was impacting anything I was trying to do and I wasn’t really able to train during the week. I’m a long way from being 100 per cent and the Lions are aware of that.

“I haven’t spoken to Gatland but he has more important and more immediate things to worry about. If that is the case [they need injury cover] then I would look forward to having any communication and there’s a conversation that needs to be had. But it’s on the unlikely side.”