England flanker Underhill set to miss Six Nations because of ankle surgery

BATH, England (AP) — England flanker Sam Underhill is set to miss the Six Nations after his Bath club revealed he needs an ankle operation.

Underhill was injured on Sunday during a replacement appearance against Northampton in the English Premiership.

Bath gave no date for his return.

“Sam Underhill will undergo surgery to rectify a new ankle injury. There is no set timeframe on his recovery,” Bath said on Friday in a medical update.

England is well stocked for back-rowers but losing the 40-cap Underhill is still a major blow for coach Steve Borthwick.

After being overlooked for the Rugby World Cup in 2023, the 28-year-old Underhill re-established himself last year by starting throughout the Six Nations and in all three tests on the summer tour to Japan and New Zealand.

An ankle issue on tour required surgery, delaying his start to this season. He missed the opening two matches of the autumn against the All Blacks and Australia but he was restored at openside flanker for the games with South Africa and Japan that closed out the campaign, scoring a try in each game and impressing with his overall play.

It is the latest injury setback for England, which looks like being without wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso for the entire tournament because of a dislocated shoulder. Also, fullback George Furbank is struggling with a broken arm.

Flanker Ollie Chessum is closing in on his comeback from a knee injury, however, while scrumhalf Alex Mitchell has fully recovered from a neck problem.

Borthwick names his Six Nations squad on Tuesday. They open against defending champion Ireland in Dublin on Feb. 1.