Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union

Joe Launchbury's last appearance in a wasps shirt was against Harlequins on 26 October 2014

By Chris Jones, BBC Sport

England lock Joe Launchbury will return to action this weekend after more than six months out with a neck injury.

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young has confirmed the 24-year-old will be on the bench for Saturday's Premiership match against Leicester.

Launchbury has not played since October because of the problem, which required surgery.

"We are really eager to get him on the field, it's like having a new signing," Young told BBC Radio 5 live.

"He's been back more or less in full training for two to three weeks, he's more than happy and more than confident."

He missed England's November internationals as well as the Six Nations, but Young says he is back fit and looking better than ever.

"He's looking excellent in training," he said.

"He's well rested, really eager, and can't wait to get back on the field. So he could be a dangerous animal, not just for us in the last couple of games, but hopefully for England in the World Cup.

"He'll start on the bench, it would be silly to chuck him in. But certainly he will get plenty of game time and hopefully he can build on that.

"We're confident Joe is 100% healed and probably better than he was before. We would never put a player at risk if that wasn't the case."