England’s hopes of making a strong start to the Six Nations Championship have suffered a significant blow with the news that flanker Sam Underhill is set to undergo ankle surgery.
The Bath player, who has been an integral part of England’s back row in recent years, is unlikely to play any part in the tournament, which kicks off next month.
Underhill’s club, Bath, revealed that the 25-year-old requires an operation to repair the damage to his ankle, which he sustained during a recent Premiership match.
The news will come as a huge disappointment to England coach Eddie Jones, who had been counting on Underhill to play a key role in the team’s bid for Six Nations glory.
Underhill has been one of the most impressive players in the English Premiership this season, and his absence will be felt by both Bath and England.
The Six Nations Championship is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the rugby calendar, with England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Italy all competing for the prestigious title.
England will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing performance in last year’s tournament, when they finished fifth in the table.
With Underhill now set to miss the tournament, Jones will have to rethink his team selection and find a suitable replacement for the injured flanker.
Bath, meanwhile, will also be without one of their star players for the foreseeable future, which could have a significant impact on their chances of finishing in the top six of the Premiership table.
Underhill’s ankle operation is the latest in a series of setbacks for England, who have already lost several key players to injury in recent months.
Despite this, Jones remains confident that his team can still make a strong challenge for the Six Nations title, and he will be working tirelessly in the coming weeks to find a solution to the team’s injury problems.
For now, though, the focus will be on Underhill and his recovery from surgery, with the hope that he will be back on the pitch as soon as possible.