Chris Robshaw seems likely to miss some, if not all, of the Six Nations after Harlequins revealed that the flanker would either need shoulder surgery or an extended period of rest and rehabilitation.
Robshaw suffered the injury in the first-half of Quins’ defeat at Worcester last weekend, his first appearance for the club since the end of October. He will see a specialist on Monday. “Chris will see a specialist early next week to determine the best course of action for his recovery, either an extended period of rest and rehabilitation, or an operation,” said the club.
A year ago, Robshaw’s future looked uncertain. England had exited the World Cup early, Stuart Lancaster had left as head coach and his replacement, Eddie Jones, had questioned whether the player who had captained the side for four years was an international quality openside flanker.
Jones moved Robshaw to the blindside and the 30-year-old played a key role in helping England go through 2016 unbeaten but, with Billy Vunipola out with a knee injury, England face having to remodel their back row for the Six Nations opener against France at Twickenham.
Better news for Jones is that his openside flanker in last year’s Six Nations and tour to Australia, James Haskell, is set to make his first appearance of the season on Sunday having been named on the Wasps bench for the match against Leicester in Coventry.
A potential replacement for Robshaw is the second-row Maro Itoje, but Jones does not know yet how many of his locks will be fit for France. Joe Launchbury is out with a calf injury and George Kruis is unlikely to return for Saracens before the France match having fractured his cheekbone.
If Itoje remains in the second row, Jones would have the option of moving Haskell to the blindside and playing Tom Wood or Teimana Harrison at No7 or giving the Leicester flanker Mike Williams his first cap. Wood is also an option at No6.
The utility back Rhys Priestland has signed a new contract with Bath, which will probably end his Wales career on 48 caps because of the Test quota on players who do not play for one of the four Welsh regions. Bath were keen for him to commit with their England No10 George Ford set to leave at the end of the season.
