England hopeful will ‘struggle to get back this season’ as Steve Borthwick left sweating ahead of July Tests
Billy Searle (right) will not feature for Leicester Tigers again this season.
Leicester Tigers fly-half Billy Searle is in a race against time to be fit for England’s Nations Championship Tests in July, with him now set to miss the rest of the season through injury.
The Devon-native was a notable absentee in Leicester’s starting XV for their thumping 41-17 win over Northampton Saints on Saturday, with James O’Connor handed the starting role instead.
Searle has arguably been the form fly-half in the PREM this season, notably winning the league’s Player of the Month award back in January, playing a key role in Leicester’s push for the play-offs.
Billy Searle emerges as major England doubt after season-ending injury
“He’ll struggle to get back this season,” Tigers head coach Geoff Parling told TNT Sports.
“He took a knock during the week (in training) just chasing a kick, and he strained his hamstring. It’ll be touch and go whether he’s back this season.”
While Searle is yet to win his first senior cap, his form since arriving at Mattioli Woods Welford Road this off-season has seen him leapfrog his way into the England picture.
The fly-half started for England A in their 52-14 win over Ireland XV back in January, and he recently revealed he had held conversations with attack coach Lee Blackett over a possible call-up this summer.
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“I have had conversations with Lee Blackett,” Searle told the Rugby Pod last month.
“I was in last week. We had a good chat and just saying how well I’m doing, like, just some stuff about my game, but saying that I’m in the mix and they’re talking about me, which is great to hear.
“I don’t want to focus on that too much. I just want to keep playing how I am, and hopefully, if it comes during the season and I’m playing with this sort of form, and I’m in the mix, I’d love to get the opportunity at some point.
“All you want as a player is to be picked on form, and I’m sure if I keep going well, potentially that might come. But that sort of thing’s out of my hands.”
He would face strong competition for a place in the senior squad, though, with Fin Smith, Marcus Smith and George Ford having somewhat of a triopoly over the number 10 jersey in recent years, while Charlie Atkinson has also been capped in the past 12 months too. Elsewhere, the likes of Harvey Skinner have also been staking their case for a call-up.