Youngs on course for World Cup rugby warm-ups

England scrum-half Ben Youngs is set to be available for the team's final two World Cup warm-up matches despite undergoing surgery on his left knee. The 21-year-old Leicester star had the cartilage removed from his knee but officials are confident he will be fit to represent England at the World Cup in New Zealand in September and October. "A full recovery is expected as quickly and as safely as possible under the guidance of the operating surgeon," said a Rugby Football Union (RFU) statement issued Friday. "Ben will continue his rehabilitation with the England medics in close consultation with their Leicester Tigers counterparts." Youngs should be back in six weeks, making him available for the second of the World Cup tune-up matches against Wales on August 13. He will also be available to face Ireland in Dublin a fortnight later. Youngs has established himself as England's first choice scrum-half since making his first Test start last November and has won 12 caps. Danny Care, Richard Wigglesworth and Joe Simpson are his rival scrum-halves in England's initial 45-man World Cup training squad.