St Helens half-back Danny Richardson has pulled out of England Knights’ touring squad to travel to Papua New Guinea due to injury.
The Saints say that Richardson suffered a groin tear in last weekend’s play-off semi-final defeat to Warrington, and will now not travel with Paul Anderson’s Knights on the first tour since the team were revived earlier this year.
“I’m gutted that I won’t get the chance to represent the Knights in PNG,” he said. “It has been a crazy season for me with plenty of ups and downs but it is important I get myself right for pre-season.
“I want to continue to work hard and improve for next year.
“I’d like to thank the fans for their support; it means a great deal to me and the players here.”
Richardson is the latest half-back to be unavailable for both senior England sides this autumn. Fellow Knights half Jake Trueman is unavailable with a hand injury, while in Wayne Bennett’s squad, Gareth Widdop and now Luke Gale – who will undergo knee surgery – are out.