Rugby

England’s Nathan Hughes and Elliot Daly could miss Six Nations

Wasps duo ruled out for at least a month after suffering injuries against La Rochelle

England’s Elliot Daly in action against Ireland’s Robbie Henshaw and Niall Scannell at the Aviva Stadium last March. Photograph: Andrew Fosker/Inpho

Tue Dec 19 2017 - 21:40

England’s Nathan Hughes and Elliot Daly could miss large chunks of the Six Nations if they require surgery on the injuries that will force them to miss at least the next month.

Wasps prevailed 21-3 over La Rochelle on Sunday but the Champions Cup victory has come at the cost of losing two of their most influential players for a number of weeks.

Hughes sustained a knee problem and Daly ankle damage, and both will see a specialist to determine whether they require operations that will threaten their participation in England’s Six Nations title defence.

“We can safely say they are ruled out for a month, even with the best picture,” said Wasps director of rugby Dai Young. “Four weeks would be the best scenario, but it could be as much as 12 if they have an operation.

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“With Elliot’s ankle he will have to go through a rehab process – it is whether he needs surgical intervention.

“Nathan felt a knock on his knee so we took him off pretty sharpish. The scans backed it up that they had significant injuries that needed to be respected.”

If Hughes does face an extended spell on the sidelines, England can at least look forward to Billy Vunipola’s return from knee surgery in January.

The squad is well stocked for wings, but Eddie Jones would not want to lose a player of Daly’s calibre after the versatile back underlined his class during the recent autumn series.

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