Out-of-favour Dan Robson is a Six Nations doubt after Wasps update

Out-of-favour England scrum-half Dan Robson is the latest big name to join the lengthy Wasps injury list, the Gallagher Premiership club confirming on Friday that an injury sustained last weekend will keep him sidelined for up to three months. That will take him through to late January and prevent him from challenging to get back into Eddie Jones’ squad in time for the 2022 Six Nations.

The 29-year-old Robson had been the bench back-up to centurion Test player Ben Youngs throughout last season, the half-back coming off the bench regularly throughout the 2020/21 campaign where he earned the majority of his 14 caps. 

Those bench appearances also included twice shadowing newcomer Harry Randall for the summer series and while Robson was involved with England for their mini-training camp in late September, he was omitted from the squad announced for the Autumn Nations Series.

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Even when it emerged last weekend that the paddle-boarding Randell would miss the games versus Tonga, Australia and South Africa, the call up went to Alex Mitchell, the uncapped Northampton No9, who will now provide bench cover for Youngs this Saturday at Twickenham. 

Wasps, whose 18-strong injury list includes the likes of Malakai Fekitoa, Jimmy Gopperth, Joe Launchbury, Paolo Odogwu and Jack Willis, have since explained why Robson wasn’t in that scrum-half cover conversation at a critical time when Raffi Quirke, England’s other No9, had gone into camp with an injury that made him unavailable for selection in the series opener versus the Tongans.  

The Bristol scrum-half will now miss the entire Autumn Nations Series with England#AutumnNationsSeries #England #ENGvTON https://t.co/qskcBweVga

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 3, 2021

A Wasps statement read: “A scan has revealed that Dan Robson sustained a tear to his groin during last Saturday’s game against Bath. He saw a specialist on Friday for assessment and management planning and will be having an operation on Saturday. The expected recovery period for an injury of this nature is up to twelve weeks.  Everyone at Wasps wishes Dan all the best for a speedy recovery.”

Robson added: “This is obviously a frustrating setback, but these things happen. I can’t wait to be running out in front of our great fans at the Coventry Building Society Arena again soon.”

England are on red alert after skipper Owen Farrell tested positive for Covid… ?#AutumnNationsSeries #England #ENGvTON
https://t.co/Ik1eyMgPgY

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 5, 2021