England’s Sam Underhill to need ankle surgery in Six Nations Steve Borthwick | Rugby Union News

England forward Sam Underhill is unlikely to feature in the Six Nations after the club revealed that he will need ankle surgery.

Underhill suffered the injury when he came on as a substitute in Sunday’s 35-34 defeat at Northampton and with no return date set, he looks set to miss the entire Championship.

“Sam will undergo surgery to repair a new ankle injury. There is no specific time frame on his recovery,” a Bath’s medical update said.

England are well-stocked for the back rows but defeat to Underhill is still a big blow for head coach Steve Borthwick.

In the year After being left out of England’s 2023 World Cup squad, the 28-year-old re-established himself last year with starts in the Six Nations and in all three Tests on the summer tour of Japan and New Zealand.

An ankle problem sustained on tour required surgery, delaying the start of the new campaign and forcing him to sit out two matches against the All Blacks and Australia in the autumn.

However, he returned to the field to close the campaign against South Africa and Japan, scoring tries in every game and impressing with his overall performance.

A veteran of 40 caps, Underhill brings physicality to the England pack, particularly in defense between the game’s most destructive tackles.

It is the latest injury setback for Borthwick, who looks set to be sidelined with winger Emmanuel Fay-Waboso due to a shoulder injury and full-back George Furbank struggling with a broken arm.

Flanker Ollie Chesum is nearing recovery from a knee injury, while scrum-half Alex Mitchell is fully recovered from a neck problem.

Borthwick named their Six Nations on Tuesday and face a tough opener against Ireland in Dublin on February 1.

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