Courtney Lawes doubtful for England's tour of Australia

Northampton lock Courtney Lawes is a doubtful starter for England's tour of Australia following a dislocation of thumb.

The 33-year-old sustained the injury during Northampton's recently concluded European Rugby Challenge Cup round-of-16 game against Gloucester which the Saints went on to lose 21-31.

This is the second injury setback for Lawes this year as a concussion that he sustained in January kept him out of the opening two rounds of the Six Nations

"Courtney had a compound dislocation of his thumb, quite nasty," said Northampton director of rugby Chris Boyd.

"The bone actually came out, but it either popped back in or was put back in, and it has been irrigated and sewn back up again.

"He has still got some medical decisions to be made around the skeletal function of the thumb and the muscle and ligament situation.

"All I can clearly say, until we get a medical view, is he won't play on Saturday. He needs specialist consultation to make a decision on what is the best course of action."

Meanwhile, number eight Sam Simmonds is also in doubt after a hip and groin injury.

England's three Tests against the Wallabies will be played on 2nd, 9th and 16th July in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney respectively.