George Furbank reveals second hospital visit after summer appendix surgery

George Furbank has revealed that he needed a second hospital visit after the appendix operation that ruled him out of England's match against South Africa in July. In an interview published by the Guardian on Friday, the full-back described developing a stomach illness on his journey home after surgery had already delayed his return from Johannesburg.

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Furbank said he began feeling unwell the day before the Test and was sent for a scan by England's team doctor. He received the results at 7pm that Friday and was told he would need to remain in hospital for an operation on Saturday. His appendix had not burst, he said, but the discomfort ended his chance of making a long-awaited international return.

The operation also meant Furbank could not immediately fly home. He stayed at England's Johannesburg hotel after the rest of the squad departed, then experienced vomiting and diarrhoea on the flight back. He told the Guardian that he returned to hospital in England because doctors were concerned the illness might be connected to the operation. That concern proved unfounded, according to his account.

The setback extended an absence from international rugby stretching back to November 2024, when Furbank played in England's 59-14 win over Japan. He broke an arm the following month, and a recurrence of that injury, alongside calf, knee and concussion problems, kept him out. The 29-year-old has 14 England caps and said he wanted to put together a sustained sequence of appearances without another interruption.

Despite those difficulties, Furbank remains part of Steve Borthwick's plans. The Guardian reported that England awarded him an enhanced contract last month and included him in this week's pre-season training camp. Those developments follow the end of his Northampton career, which he completed with a second Premiership winners' medal before moving to Harlequins.

At his new club, Furbank is reunited with England team-mate Marcus Smith, who replaced him for the Johannesburg Test. Smith told the Guardian that their previous experience playing together at fly-half and full-back had given them an understanding of each other's strengths. He also said Furbank had consulted him about joining Harlequins, where Brad Cooper has arrived as attack coach after helping the Hurricanes win the Super Rugby title.