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Leicester forward Geoff Parling ruled out of England's autumn series with concussion

Image: England lock Geoff Parling has been ruled out after suffering concussion

Geoff Parling has been ruled out of England's autumn series after Leicester announced he is likely to be sidelined until December with concussion.

The 30-year-old lock saw a specialist this week after being concussed for the second time in three games in the 45-0 Aviva Premiership defeat at Bath 10 days ago.

"Geoff saw the relevant specialist this week and will have time out of the game now," Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill said.

"He'll probably have three or four weeks of complete down time and then he'll be reintegrated into training.

"You'd like to think that by December he'll be playing again. And there's no doubt about that, he will play again, there are no issues over that.

"It's more that he's had successive concussions in a short period of time. You have to take that very seriously, as we do.

"I need him out on the playing field from a rugby point of view, but it's not a bump, bruise or strain that you can play through. It's a serious matter and the club take it very seriously and we manage it as such.

Bigger picture

"Ultimately there are more important things than playing rugby and you have to look at the bigger picture.

"We've all got injuries from playing rugby, whether it's a worn out back or knackered something. You can deal with that, but you can't deal with head injuries and all that stuff.

"If you take a bang on your head and you don't feel quite right, you know in yourself you have to deal with something because it's serious."

Parling's injury comes as another blow to England head coach Stuart Lancaster who has already been hit with the news that Northampton's Alex Corbisiero will miss the autumn internationals with a shoulder injury.

Saracens loosehead Mako Vunipola (knee) and Leicester tighthead Dan Cole (neck) are also not expected to be fit and Leicester hooker Tom Youngs has also been ruled out for three months with a shoulder problem.

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