Nowell set to miss all of the Six Nations
Jack Nowell has joined Billy Vunipola on the injured list for the Guinness Six Nations after England head coach Eddie Jones revealed he is to undergo surgery.
Nowell finished Exeter's European match against La RochelleonSaturdaybutfaces an operation to repair a damaged ankle that could prevent him from playing any part in the Championship.
It is the second hammer blow of bad news for England, afterVunipolasustainedabroken arm while on Champions Cup duty for Saracens on Sunday.
"Jack is injured and is going to have an operation and we'll see when he gets back," said Jones of the Lions wing whose career has been plagued by injury.
It is the fourth time Vunipola has sustained a fracture tooneofhisarms,robbingEnglandofoneoftheirmostpotent carriers for the Six Nations.
"It's massively disappointing for him but these things happen. There was a rugby leaguegreat,MalMeninga,who brokehisarmfourtimesintwo years," Jones said.
"Post that two years he then played six or seven years, won grand finals and won Test matches for the Kangaroos. The tide will turn for Billy."
Speaking for the first time since it was announced Saracens would be relegated from the Gallagher Premiership for breachingthesalarycap,Jones had a simple message for his stars from Allianz Park.
Jones said: "Get ready to play against France and then getreadytoplayagainstwhoeverweplayagainstafterFrance. All they have got to do is come in and have a great excitement about playing for England.
"All of that business, that will get sorted out. Just get ready for England."