England’s Sam Underhill needs ankle surgery in Six Nations clash for Steve Borthwick | Rugby Union News
England winger Sam Underhill is unlikely to play any part in the Six Nations after his club Bath revealed he is due to undergo ankle surgery.
Underhill picked up the injury when he came on as a substitute in Sunday’s 35-34 defeat at Northampton and with no date given for his return, it looks like he will miss the entire campaign.
“Sam will undergo surgery to correct a new ankle injury. There is no specific time frame for his recovery,” the Bath doctor’s report said.
England are well stocked in the back rows, but the loss of Underhill is still a huge blow for head coach Steve Borthwick.
After being overlooked in England’s 2023 World Cup squad, the 28-year-old re-established himself last year by starting throughout the Six Nations and in all three Tests on the summer tour to Japan and New Zealand.
An ankle problem he picked up on tour required surgery, delaying the start of the new season and forcing him to sit out the first two matches of the autumn against the All Blacks and Australia.
But he returned to openside for the campaign-closing clashes with South Africa and Japan, scoring a try in each game and impressing with his overall game.
A 40-cap veteran, Underhill brings physicality to the England team, especially in defense where he is among the most devastating forwards in the game.
It is the latest injury for Borthwick, who looks set to be without winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso for the entire tournament with a dislocated shoulder, while full-back George Furbank is struggling with a broken arm.
But winger Ollie Chessum is closing in on a return from a knee injury, while struggling Alex Mitchell is fully recovered from a neck problem.
Borthwick will name his Six Nations squad on Tuesday and faces a tough opener against Ireland in Dublin on February 1.
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