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 Rochelle on Saturday but faces an operation to repair a damaged ankle that could prevent him from playing any part in the Championship.
It is the second hammer blow on a morning of bad news for England, who also learned that Vunipola sustained a broken 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.