Leeds Rhinos captain and England star Kallum Watkins has been ruled out for eight months after scans confirmed he had suffered an ACL injury in Saturday’s defeat to Castleford Tigers at the Dacia Magic Weekend.

The England centre will miss the remainder of the Betfred Super League season with the Champions and it also rules him out of England action for 2018.

Commenting on the injury, Watkins said, “I’m deeply disappointed to be missing the rest of the season. However, I will be doing everything possible to make sure I return ready to kick on from this injury. I know I am in the best possible hands with our medical team at the Rhinos and, in the meantime, I will be backing the boys from the sidelines and giving them every support for the rest of the campaign.”