England face an anxious wait to discover if Elliot Daly and Nathan Hughes will be fit for the start of the Six Nations championship after Wasps confirmed both players would be sidelined for at least the next month and may require operations. Daly has damaged his left ankle while Hughes has a strained medial knee ligament.
If a specialist decides this week Daly does require surgery, the Wasps’ director of rugby, Dai Young, fears the 25-year-old Lions wing could be out for two to three months. Young is already resigned to his international duo sitting out the next four weeks, starting with Saturday’s Premiership game against second-placed Gloucester.
“The MRI scans have come back and it does not look particularly good news,” said Young. “I think we can safely say they are ruled out for a month, even with the best picture. Four weeks would be the best scenario – it could be as much as 12 if they have an operation. Fingers crossed it won’t be at that level.”
Daly was hurt when he landed awkwardly after jumping to collect a high ball against La Rochelle and Wasps were initially more concerned about Hughes and the Kiwi midfielder Jimmy Gopperth, who has also suffered a “significant knee injury”. Young and the England head coach, Eddie Jones, will be anxiously awaiting the consultant’s verdict. “After the game I didn’t think Elliot’s was as bad as the other two,” continued Young. “After the game he was not in too much discomfort but all three of them did not look great the next day. The scans backed up that they had significant injuries that needed to be respected.”
With Billy Vunipola hoping to return to action for Saracens in the not-too-distant future and Jonny May, Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell available for selection on England’s wings, Jones at least has some decent cover at his disposal should the No8 Hughes and Daly be unavailable for England’s opening Six Nations fixture against Italy in Rome on 4 February.
Ben Te’o could be another absentee from the squad preparing for the start of the championship after Worcester’s director of rugby, Gary Gold, said the centre was still another six weeks away from returning following an ankle problem.
The loss of Hughes and Daly is a significant setback for Wasps before a block of three Premiership fixtures and two European pool games against Harlequins and Ulster that will “define our season”, according to Young. “We certainly could have done with those three players being available but you have to get on with it.”
The club are also waiting to discover if their international fly-half Danny Cipriani will commit to stay beyond the end of this season and want the player to make up his mind within the next fortnight or so. “Danny’s on record as saying he’ll make a decision after Christmas and we can’t sit on our hands,” said Young. “He’s got to make a call. We don’t want to leave it much longer and I’m sure Danny wouldn’t.”
