BBC Sport4/24/2026Sports1 min read

Warrington captain George Williams facing race against time after neck surgery confirmed

31-year-old half-back out with neck injury sustained in loss at Catalans, hoping to return before season end and feature in World Cup

george williams warrington wolves super league

Quick Look

Warrington Wolves captain and England half-back George Williams will undergo surgery on a neck injury sustained in the defeat at Catalans on April 18.
The 31-year-old, who is leaving Warrington at the end of the season to return to the NRL, described himself as "racing against the clock" to recover in time for the Super League season run-in and the Rugby League World Cup in the autumn.

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Why It Matters

George Williams is a senior figure in both Warrington Wolves and the England national team. He previously played in the NRL for Canberra Raiders and Sydney Roosters before returning to England. He announced he would be leaving Warrington at the end of the current season to return to the NRL.

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Warrington and England captain George Williams has said he is "racing against the clock" to be fit before the end of the Super League season - with a World Cup to follow in the autumn - after confirmation that he will have surgery on a neck injury. The 31-year-old's club had confirmed he would be out for an "extended period" with an injury sustained in the loss at Catalans on 18 April. "I got a knock and didn't think it would be as serious as it was," the half-back told Sky Sports during Warrington's Super League game against Wigan on Friday. "I went for a scan and it's not good news. I've had a couple of days to process it and obviously it's disappointing, but I'll have the surgery and look forward to hopefully the back end of the year." Williams will leave Warrington at the end of the season to return to the NRL and, asked about his hopes of representing the Wire again this season, Williams added: "I'm praying with everything I've got. "It wouldn't be a good way to go out and that's why the news was so tough to take. I'll be racing against the clock to get back and hopefully I can play here again."