BATH, England – Sam Underhill, the flanker from England, is anticipated to miss the upcoming Six Nations tournament due to a required ankle surgery, as disclosed by his club, Bath.


Underhill sustained the injury during a game on Sunday, where he appeared as a substitute against Northampton in the Premiership. Bath has yet to provide a timeline for his recovery following the operation.


In a medical update released on Friday, Bath confirmed, “Sam Underhill will undergo surgery to address a new ankle injury. There is no established timeframe for his recovery.”


Although England has a deep pool of back-row players, Underhill’s absence is still a significant setback for coach Steve Borthwick. Underhill, who has earned 40 international caps, made a strong comeback last year after being excluded from the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He played a crucial role by starting consistently throughout the Six Nations and during all three tests on the subsequent summer tour in Japan and New Zealand.


He had previously faced an ankle issue that required surgery while on tour, which pushed back his start this season. Although he missed the first two autumn matches against the All Blacks and Australia, he returned as an openside flanker for the concluding games against South Africa and Japan, impressively scoring a try in each match and showcasing his overall performance.


This injury adds to a string of setbacks for the England team, including wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who may be sidelined for the entire tournament due to a dislocated shoulder. Additionally, fullback George Furbank is currently dealing with a broken arm.


On a positive note, flanker Ollie Chessum is nearing a return from his knee injury, while scrumhalf Alex Mitchell has completely recovered from a neck ailment.


Borthwick is expected to announce his Six Nations squad on Tuesday, with England set to begin their campaign against defending champions Ireland in Dublin on February 1.