Exeter Chiefs winger Campbell Ridl is set to miss the majority of the season after suffering a serious ACL injury.
The 21-year-old picked up the knee injury during Exeter’s opening pre-season fixture against Scarlets earlier this month.
It is a major setback for one of English rugby’s brightest young prospects, with Ridl now facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The winger had been pushing to force his way further into the England conversation after a superb breakthrough campaign for Exeter.
Ridl scored an outstanding 17 tries in 24 appearances last season, including a try in Exeter’s PREM final defeat against Northampton Saints at Twickenham.
His performances had put him firmly on the radar ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup cycle, but his immediate focus will now be on recovering from a significant knee injury.
Baxter confirms serious damage
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter has confirmed Ridl damaged his ACL, with further cartilage damage potentially extending his recovery.
“It’s a pretty significant knee injury, it’s ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) with bits and pieces, which looks like cartilage damage as well,” Baxter told BBC Sport.
“You’re talking majority of the season. Good ones can recover pretty quickly and a really fast rehab can be around six months, and then you talk anything up to the nine-month period and beyond if there’s more complications.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a six-month one because of the other bits that have also been damaged in the knee, so unfortunately for Campbell it’s going to be relatively long-term this season.”
