-
Mike Williams has broken his arm for the third time in 12 months
-
The uncapped flanker was being touted for a possible openside role by Eddie Jones
-
James Haskell, Jack Clifford and Sam Jones were already on the injured list
England’s deepening injury crisis has escalated further after Mike Williams became the fourth openside to be ruled out of the entire autumn series.
Williams has broken his arm for the third time in a year after sustaining the damage during a tackle drill in the warm-up to Leicester’s victory over Worcester on Saturday.
The uncapped 24-year-old will miss up to three months of action in the latest setback to England’s plans for their forthcoming internationals against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia.
“It’s bitterly disappointing with England on the horizon,” said Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill.
England start their autumn campaign against South Africa at Twickenham on 12 November.
“Unfortunately he’s re-fractured his arm that he broke last year. It will heal in 8-12 weeks,” Cockerill told BBC Radio Leicester.
“It’s the same arm and fracture site. Historically, these things are notoriously difficult to clear up. They have a history of coming back. They are very difficult injuries to shake off.
“We have done all the right things and he has done everything he can do but it is purely bad luck.”
Sam Jones and Anthony Watson endured autumn-ending injuries during the camp and Jack Nowell is likely to be added to that list because of a significantly torn quad.
Jones is to meet the 12 Aviva Premiership directors of rugby at a pre-arranged meeting in London on Thursday with the recent spate of injuries sure to top the agenda.
