Saracens will be without Samoan forward Theo McFarland for the remainder of the season after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
McFarland has been a regular for Saracens this season, playing nine of their 12 matches across the Premiership and Champions Cup.
Hammer blow
The 27-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise since joining Saracens in 2021, who he signed for after the Dallas Jackals delayed their entry in the Major Rugby League in the USA.
His lineout prowess and athletic ability has seen him cement his place in the squad, and his injury is a hammer blow to the side that currently tops the Premiership table.
McFarland suffered the injury in training ahead of the clash against London Irish, a game that Saracens went on to lose, their first defeat in the league this season.
“Everyone knows, not how difficult it is to come back from an ACL, but how painstaking the process is,” said Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall.
“It’s a shame because Theo made a lot of progress very quickly, but we have a great medical team, and he’ll come back well, and he’ll come back strongly. When he does, he’ll get better and better.
Positive injury news
McCall is expected to have hooker Jamie George and lock Maro Itoje at his disposal for Saracens’ final match of 2022, against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.
The England pair missed the clash against the Exiles as George recovers from a heel injury and Itoje from concussion.
Fly-half Manu Vunipola is also back in training after breaking his foot in the Premiership Rugby Cup while centre Dom Morris has returned from a calf injury.
Saracens will look to further cement their place on top of the table as they head into the match with a 10-point buffer over second-placed Sale Sharks.
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