England’s Lawes is ruled out of action

ENGLAND lock Courtney Lawes faces being out of rugby for 12 weeks after suffering a pectoral injury.

The Northampton forward, who has won 87 caps, was hurt during England training last week.

His Saints team-mate David Ribbans has been called into England’s Guinness Six Nations squad to bolster second-row resources ahead of their remaining games against France and Ireland.

Northampton said that Lawes will undergo surgery and he faces an approximate 12-week recovery period.

That would sideline him until late May or early June, meaning he will miss the overwhelming majority of Saints’ remaining Gallagher Premiership fixtures.

Whether it affects his British and Irish Lions squad selection hopes to face South Africa this summer remains to be seen.

“Northampton Saints can confirm that, following consultation between the club’s medical staff and a specialist, Courtney Lawes will undergo surgery on the pectoral injury he sustained in England training last week,” Saints said in a statement.

“The 32-year-old lock will require a rehabilitation period of approximately 12 weeks.”

England resume their Six Nations campaign against France on Saturday week, having suffered defeats against Scotland and Wales either side of beating Italy.

The Rugby Football Union said that some of Jones’ 28-man squad “who have received less playing time during the tournament” will be given an opportunity to play for their clubs this weekend.

“This will be an individual decision for each player from a performance perspective and is in line with tournament regulations and Covid-19 protocols,” the RFU added.

Meanwhile, Exeter and England wing Jack Nowell has suffered a setback in his bid to recover from injury.

Nowell has not played this season after undergoing surgery on damaged toe ligaments, with his last appearance being Exeter’s Gallagher Premiership final victory over Wasps in October.

And Exeter rugby director Rob Baxter has revealed that Nowell “had another issue” as he got back into full training at the Chiefs, although he would not disclose details.

“Unfortunately, Jack has had another issue as he has got back into full training, so I think it is going to be a little while before we see Jack,” Baxter said.

Nowell won the last of his 34 England caps during the 2019 World Cup in Japan, while he toured New Zealand as a member of the 2017 British and Irish Lions squad.