England star sees his Lions hopes ruined after fresh injury setback

The 27-year-old, who was selected for the tour of New Zealand in 2017, hasn't featured for club or country since the Gallagher Premiership final back in October.

After recovering from extensive toe surgery, it's now been reported that he has picked up a calf injury in training which is unrelated to the previous injury.

Baxter confirmed to Devon Live: “Unfortunately Jack has had another issue as he has got back into full training so I think it is going to be a little while before we see Jack.

“We kind of held him back for a week to give him a couple of weeks of full training and unfortunately later on in the second week it was just one of those things he pulled up with another injury and now we are going to have to wait a little while longer to get him back to full fitness.”

Baxter continued: “He is a guy who loves playing rugby, loves training and getting on with things and obviously he has got some concerns that this probably means he won’t play international rugby this year and there is a British and Irish Lions tour at the end of this season he is desperate to be involved with.

“He is very aware of those things.

The flanker suffered extensive knee damage against Italy that is expected to end both his season and his dreams of playing for the British & Irish Lions in the summer. Willis' left leg buckled awkwardly after Sebastian Negri pulled him out of a ruck, leaving the Wasps back row crying out in pain.

The 2013 Lion was in the form of his life in early 2021, earning a deserved recall to the Wales XV for their opening Six Nations match against Ireland. However, what was a dream quickly turned into a. nightmare as the back-rower suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 21-16 victory at the Principality Stadium.

Tipped by Sir Ian McGeechan to be a Lions bolter, Dorsi reportedly travelled to Birmingham in early February to see a neurologist for his ongoing issues around concussion. Doris was concussed within four minutes of his international debut last year, against Scotland, but returned to face England a fortnight later.

After controversially being left out of the 2017 Lions squad, fans were hopeful he'd finally get his chance this time around. However, then the news that he has pulled out of the Six Nations through injury, having suffered a stress fracture to his leg, is a blow to his chances.

The 29-year-old is currently recovering from surgery on his achilles tendon that will keep him on the sidelines until at least May. With the squad set to be announced that month, Tuilagi is facing a race against time to prove his fitness to Warren Gatland.