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James Haskell’s hopes of playing in England’s Six Nations opener have been dealt a blow
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He reported minor soreness in his foot after the game
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Back-row forward Jack Clifford will also remain at his club Harlequins
James Haskell and Jack Clifford are major doubts for England’s Six Nations opener after it was confirmed they would miss the team’s warm weather training in Portugal to undergo further assessments on Monday.
A statement from the Rugby Football Union said: “Both players sustained injuries in their club games on Sunday and were due to arrive in Vilamoura today but will instead stay in the UK to undergo further medical assessments after which a decision will be made on when they join up with England,”
After six months out with a toe injury, Haskell played almost an hour in Wasps’ Champions Cup victory at Zebre on Sunday.
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He reported minor soreness in his foot after the game, but still expected to attend the training camp as planned.
Back-row forward Clifford will also remain at his club Harlequins after he picked up an injury in the Challenge Cup defeat by Stade Francais in Paris.
Fellow back-rowers Chris Robshaw and Billy Vunipola have already been ruled out for the entire tournament, while props Mako Vunipola and Joe Marler will miss the start.
Captain Dylan Hartley and lock George Kruis, meanwhile, will go into the opening fixture with little recent match practice owing to suspension and injury.
Jones and his players are due to spend three days this week at a warm-weather training camp in Portugal.