Cowan-Dickie ruled out with injury

By Mark Stevens
19/10/16

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has said it's unlikely hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie will figure during the upcoming Autumn internationals.

The 23-year-old Cornishman was forced off during the first half of last weekend's European Champions Cup encounter with ASM Clermont Auvergne at Sandy Park.

Since then Cowan-Dickie has undergone scans on his ankle, which although it shows no fracture, has picked up ligament damage.

"It's relatively serious," said Baxter. "There's no fracture but it does look like a badly sprained ankle with some ligament damage so we're not going to be seeing him in the next few weeks."

The loss of Cowan-Dickie is the latest injury blow to hit the Aviva Premiership club with Baxter also currently without the likes of Don Armand, Michele Campagnaro, Phil Dollman, Dave Ewers, Alec Hepburn, Matt Jess and Jack Nowell.

The good news for Baxter is Campagnaro, Dollman and Ewers have all started light training in the past week, but none of them will figure in Saturday's latest European encounter away to Ulster Rugby.

Baxter admitted the loss of Cowan-Dickie was untimely, particularly given the form he had already shown this season.

"Luke's been playing really well and he's been a high-tempo high work rate player for us with great physicality in attack and defence," added Baxter. "The bigger blow is for him personally as when you're on form when you're a young hooker you want to keep on going and he's been involved in some big games for us."