Underhill could miss Six Nations

Sam Underhill is an injury doubt for England’s Six Nations after it was revealed the backrow has suffered a significant lower limb injury.

Bath confirmed that both he and fellow forward Matt Garvey both faces spells on the sideline.

A statement released this morning reads: “Bath Rugby can confirm that Matt Garvey and Sam Underhill are going to be out of action following injuries sustained in the win against Leicester Tigers on Sunday.

“Garvey suffered a fracture to his ankle and is expected to need surgery, which will keep him out for around three months. Underhill sustained ligament damage to his ankle and further detail around his expected return will be provided after his specialist review.”

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England face Ireland in the Aviva Stadium on February 2nd in just one months time. With an RPI score of 68, Underhill is rated as the 7th best openside in the Premiership, despite an injury-stricken couple of years at the club.

While concussion has been a major hurdle for Underhill, this time it is his ankle that is causing issues. The highly-rated flanker has played just nine times for the club since joining in 2017.

Underhill joined the Ospreys for 2015/16 as a highly-rated specialist openside flanker and was initially with Bridgend Ravens as a semi-professional player alongside his studies. Such was his rapid progress that he became a member of Steve Tandy’s Ospreys squad.

He was born in Dayton, Ohio, played twice for Gloucester before crossing the Severn Bridge and after touring Argentina, he switched to Bath on a three-year deal in 2017.