Tom Curry steps down with immediate effect following concussion

The timing of the camp has drawn criticism, with only two rounds of the PREM Rugby regular season remaining. Some have pointed to injuries such as Curry’s as avoidable and reflective of the ongoing club-versus-country tension.

Sanderson confirmed Curry’s symptoms have not worsened, but the flanker must complete the mandatory 12-day stand-down period. He is expected to return for next week’s season finale against Bristol Bears.

Sale still have plenty to play for, with victory this weekend against Newcastle Red Bulls effectively securing Champions Cup qualification, making Curry’s absence particularly untimely.

Addressing the injury, Sanderson said: “I'm always frustrated when a player gets injured on someone else's time.

"But I'm not frustrated at the nature of the injury. I don't think it was intentional, malicious, it's just one of those things that does happen in a higher pressured environment… injuries occur. It's just part of managing those elite level players that are in and out of internationals.”

Asked whether England head coach Steve Borthwick had been in contact following the incident, Sanderson said he had not, but stressed the pair still maintain a strong relationship.

He also argued that the intensity of alignment camps naturally increases injury risk because players are eager to impress.

“He hasn't been in contact recently, he has been in contact regularly,” Sanderson said. “I've got a better relationship with Steve probably than what I had when we were coaching or playing together… I've got a lot of respect for him, and Wiggy [Richard Wigglesworth] for that matter.”

He added: “I don't think it's necessarily on the content of the sessions, I think it's more around the players understanding the levels of intensity and physicality… everyone's looking to prove themselves above another.”

Sanderson also backed the England coaching staff to manage players responsibly moving forward.

“The actual knowledge and ability within that coaching team… to understand how to manage a group of players and not injure them needlessly, I am confident in them.”

Northampton Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson has been more critical of the alignment camp after scrum-half Alex Mitchell suffered a season-ending hamstring injury, saying that training volume at the end of the season is something to be discussed.

While Sanderson acknowledged those frustrations, particularly given the importance of the closing fixtures for Saints particularly, he noted that Prem directors of rugby had already agreed to the timing of the camps in advance.

“If it was a game of greater consequence… I'd be almost beside myself in terms of the timing of it,” he admitted.

“All the DoRs agree and sign to when these alignment camps take place… You can't go back and say that it shouldn't be at a time because everyone had their moment to put their point across. You can't have your cake and eat it.”