England are facing a looming front-row crisis after Sale pair Luke Cowan-Dickie and Bevan Rodd suffered suspected season-ending injuries.
The international pair were forced off during Sale’s 26-17 win over Harlequins as Alex Sanderson’s side reached the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals.
Sanderson subsequently confirmed that Cowan-Dickie feared he had broken his wrist or forearm, while Rodd sustained a dislocated shoulder that had to be put back in at the Twickenham Stoop.
Both are unlikely to play again in their club’s campaign and would appear to be major doubts for England’s inaugural Nations Championship campaign.
Steve Borthwick’s side, who have lost their last four games, begin a gruelling itinerary against South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday 4 July, before taking on Fiji in Liverpool and Argentina in Santiago del Estero.
“Luke is a tough boy and he believes he’s broken his wrist or forearm,” Sanderson said. “Bevan dislocated his shoulder but had it put back in on the field, but I think that’s probably their season over with the summer tour for England also in jeopardy.”
Borthwick utilised the pair in every game of the Six Nations, with Cowan-Dickie starting twice and Rodd appearing off the bench in all five matches.
The loss of Cowan-Dickie, particularly, would be a major blow with he and Jamie George given the vast majority of minutes at hooker over the last couple of years. Theo Dan was the other member of the Six Nations squad, while Gabriel Oghre and Curtis Langdon featuring last year.
Rodd, meanwhile, stepped in at loosehead with Fin Baxter missing the Six Nations campaign. Baxter has not played for Harlequins since the middle of December due to a foot injury, though it is hoped he may return soon.
Borthwick also faces the prospect of being without two of his top tightheads. Bath’s Will Stuart ruptured his achilles late last year, while Trevor Davison is set to undergo surgery after suffering a knee injury for Northampton against Saracens last week.
