Slade injury blow for England

By Mark Stevens
25/1/18

Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade will miss "at least" the first four weeks of England's Six Nations campaign with a shoulder injury, Eddie Jones has confirmed.

The 24-year-old playmaker sustained the injury during Saturday’s 28-21 European Champions Cup defeat to Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun - and will now miss games against Italy (February 4), Wales (February 10) and Scotland (February 24).

In addition to Slade, Kyle Sinckler, Chris Robshaw, Mike Brown and Exeter team-mate Jack Nowell are all injury doubts for the opening game in Rome.

Jones said: "Slade has got a reasonably significant shoulder injury so he will probably miss at least the first four weeks of the tournament.

"Kyle Sinckler is getting further examination on a hamstring injury he has been carrying for a while so we will know a bit more this morning. Mike Brown is slowly recovering. We don't know whether he is going to be right for Italy.

"Chris Robshaw is recovering from his back so he is borderline and Jack Nowell has probably got another three or four weeks to go so it is a great opportunity for young players."

Saracens’ Billy Vunipola and Wasps' Nathan Hughes have both already been ruled out of the Six Nations with injuries, leaving head coach Eddie Jones short of ball-carrying back-rows.

One option, however, could be Chiefs forward Sam Simmonds, who impressed during the Autumn series, winning three caps against Argentina, Australia and Samoa.

Despite selection headaches, Jones has maintained England will have no excused if they fail to win the competition for a third successive season.