{"id":641214,"date":"2026-06-16T07:24:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T07:24:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/641214\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T07:24:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T07:24:24","slug":"england-and-nrl-star-kai-pearce-paul-suffers-devastating-injury-as-race-for-world-cup-fitness-begins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/641214\/","title":{"rendered":"England and NRL star Kai Pearce-Paul suffers \u2018devastating\u2019 injury as race for World Cup fitness begins"},"content":{"rendered":"

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England and NRL star Kai Pearce-Paul is the latest player for Wests Tigers to suffer a serious injury with the former Wigan man now starting the race to be fit for the World Cup.<\/p>\n

Only last week, Wests forward Royce Hunt, a reported target for Leeds Rhinos<\/a>, suffered a serious injury and now the Tigers have been dealt another blow with Pearce-Paul leaving the field in their win over the Gold Coast Titans.<\/p>\n

The English second-rower didn\u2019t last long as he picked up what is a suspected pectoral injury just 11 minutes into the game as he walked off holding his chest after making a tackle. That\u2019s something that will have also been of concern for Gold Coast assistant coach, Brian McDermott, who was appointed head coach of England back in April<\/a> and will surely have been planning to take the forward to this year\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s now a case, for both Wests and England, of hoping that scans prove the issue not to be season-ending though that is the fear with teammate Hunt, who suffered the same injury and had to have surgery<\/a> which has effectively shut him down for the year.<\/p>\n

Renowned and respected social media account NRL Physio had explained on X that Pearce-Paul would require \u2018several weeks on the sideline\u2019 and potentially surgery, something that would elongate any recovery time.<\/p>\n

Speaking after his side\u2019s win, Wests head coach Benji Marshall addressed the injury to Pearce-Paul as he labelled it \u2018devastating\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a big part of our team and what we do and defensively, what he brings to our side,\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n

\u201c(It\u2019s) devastating, I think it\u2019s a pec injury but just the severity of it, we\u2019re not sure. He\u2019ll get some scans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearce-Paul would have been considered a near certainty to feature for England in the World Cup but his fate could now depend on the outcome of the scans and the resulting recovery timeline with the tournament starting in October.<\/p>\n

England\u2019s first game will be in Perth against Tonga on the 17th of October, just over four months away with Pearce-Paul, like captain George Williams, in a race to be fit.<\/p>\n

Sir Kevin Sinfield, play-off race heats up and who can stop Wigan Warriors? \u2013 Click here to watch the latest episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show.<\/a><\/p>\n

Kai Pearce Paul won\u2019t return & will go for scans on a suspected pec injury. Fairly textbook mechanism making tackle with arm hanging out to the side.<\/p>\n

Considering traumatic nature + immediate removal concern there for moderate to high grade injury \u2013 would mean several weeks on\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Tnba2TZKEy<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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