sport news Joe Launchbury targets a return to the England team under Steve Borthwick in ... trends now
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The last few months of 2022 couldn’t have gone much worse for Joe Launchbury
After Wasps – the club he captained – went bust and the England lock moved to Japan in search of work, he broke his hand playing for new club Toyota Verblitz on Christmas Day.
Launchbury is hoping for better luck this year. A return to Test rugby and a place back in new England head coach Steve Borthwick’s squad for the World Cup is the target.
Joe Launchbury was forced to leave Wasps - where he was captain - after the club went bust
‘The desire to play international rugby is something you don’t ever really lose. It’s still there for me,’ Launchbury told Sportsmail from the Far East.
‘I understand that being over here now is making it harder for myself and I’m missing the Six Nations but for sure it (England) is something I’m passionate about. I’ve been in conversation with Steve.’
Like all the players at Wasps and Worcester, Launchbury lost his job when the two clubs fell out of existence in what amounted to an unprecedented financial crisis for the English game.
The lock admitted that he is still passionate about playing international rugby
The experienced lock subsequently upped sticks for a short-term move to Japan’s Rugby League One.
He will return to England with Harlequins for next season and hopes to feature in the World Cup.
Launchbury remains eligible to play for England because his
