England wing Anthony Watson ruled out for six months with Achilles injury

England and Bath wing Anthony Watson has sustained a torn Achilles and faces around six months out of action.

The 24-year-old, who has scored 15 tries in 33 tests for his country, left the field on an electric cart after 34th minute of England's 24-15 defeat to Ireland in Saturday's Six Nations encounter at Twickenham.

Bath confirmed on Monday that Watson has been ruled out for the rest of the season and it is understood that, with surgery and a lengthy period of rehabilitation, he will be also ruled out of England's tour of South Africa in June.

“Anthony has been in superb form this year and we’re obviously really disappointed to have lost him at a critical part of the season,” said Bath’s director of rugby, Todd Blackadder.

Watson is the latest addition to the casualty list with England already set to miss Courtney Lawes and Nathan Hughes for the three-Test series against South Africa after both underwent knee surgery last week.