Rugby-England's Kruis to miss rest of Six Nations, needs knee surgery

Feb 5 ( Reuters) - England suffered a blow in their bid to retain the Six Nations championship as lock forward George Kruis was ruled out of the rest of the tournament on Sunday with a knee ligament injury.

The 26-year-old Saracens forward will have surgery on Tuesday and will be sidelined for up to three months, a statement from the England team said.

Prop forward Mako Vunipola, though, will join up with Eddie Jones' squad this week before they face Wales on Saturday as he continues his own rehabilitation from a knee injury.

Kruis, who had just recovered from a fractured cheekbone, missed England's opening Six Nations win against France on Saturday after suffering the injury in training on Tuesday.

"It is expected that the second row will require a 10-12 week rehabilitation period," sais the England statement.

Kruis is unlikely to play again again before Warren Gatland names his British and Irish Lions squad for the tour of New Zealand in April, potentially ruling him out of making the trip. (Reporting by Ian Chadband; Editing by Ken Ferris)