Ankle injury keeps Courtney Lawes out of England's Autumn internationals

England will miss the services of Northampton lock Courtney Lawes for the Autumn internationals following an ankle injury.

Lawes suffered the injury during the Gallagher Premiership game against Sale Sharks which Northampton went to lose 34-14. The same game also saw his England team-mate and Sale Sharks centre Manu Tuilagi injuring his left Achilles.

Lawes has played 85 Tests for England since his debut in 2009 and had been part of their campaign in the 2011, 2015 and 2019 World Cups. He also played two Tests for the British and Irish Lions during their drawn tour of New Zealand in 2017.

“Northampton Saints can confirm that, following consultation between the club’s medical staff and a specialist, Courtney Lawes will undergo surgery on the ankle injury he sustained against Sale Sharks last week," read a statement from Northampton Saints.

“The 31-year-old England lock will require a rehabilitation period of approximately 12 weeks.”

Earlier, England coach Eddie Jones named 28-man training squad that included 12 uncapped players but Piers Francis was withdrawn after he was tested positive for Covid-19.

England will face Barbarians on 25th October at Twickenham Stadium before they will lock horns with Italy in the final round of the Six Nations game in Rome on 31st October.

They are also Pooled in Group A along with Ireland, Wales and Georgia in the Autumn Nations Cup that will kick-off on 13th November.