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Joe Launchbury returns to Wasps squad after injury lay-off
ESPN Staff
May 5, 2015
Joe Launchbury
Joe Launchbury© Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Joe Launchbury will return to Wasps' matchday squad against Leicester on Saturday after over six months out with a neck injury.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Launchbury's Wasps coach Dai Young revealed the lock would make his first appearance since surgery in October from the bench against Tigers. 

"We are really eager to get him on the field, it's like having a new signing," said Young. "He's been back more or less in full training for two to three weeks, he's more than happy and more than confident.

"He's looking excellent in training. He's well rested, really eager, and can't wait to get back on the field. So he could be a dangerous animal, not just for us in the last couple of games, but hopefully for England in the World Cup." 

Launchbury missed England's entire autumn international campaign as well as the Six Nations - in which his team finished second - but has time to prove his fitness ahead of the World Cup in September.

"He'll start on the bench, it would be silly to chuck him in," said Young. "But certainly he will get plenty of game time and hopefully he can build on that. We're confident Joe is 100% healed and probably better than he was before. We would never put a player at risk if that wasn't the case."

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