Struggling Exeter Chiefs will be without star England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso until the Spring because of the dislocated shoulder sustained on club duty last month.

Feyi-Waboso is to undergo surgery on the joint damaged against Sale on December 21 that will rule him out for around three months and rule him out of the entire Six Nations tournament. The 22-year-old has emerged as one of England’s most dangerous players with a strike rate of five tries in eight matches and, if fit, would have been an automatic pick for the Six Nations opener against Ireland on February 1.

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Apart from the setback to Steve Borthwick’s hopes of overseeing a revival in the Championship following a poor autumn, Feyi-Waboso has been denied the most important stage of all to press his claim to British and Irish Lions selection. Andy Farrell takes the Lions to Australia this summer and the Chiefs finisher was a frontrunner for one of the back three spots because of his impact since making his Test debut in last year’s Six Nations.

He was also forced to sit out the matches against South Africa and Japan in November after being concussed against Australia. His absence stretches England’s back three resources with George Furbank likely to miss the start of the Championship with a broken arm.

Ollie Sleightholme and Tom Roebuck will likely compete to fill the vacancy on the wing, although the former pulled out of Northampton’s victory over Bath on Sunday with a hamsting concern, with another rival for a spot in England's back-three - Bath's Will Muir - also pulling up with a concerning hamstring injury during the game. Bristol's uncapped Gabriel Ibitoye is currently sidelined for up to five weeks with a leg injury sustained against Sale Sharks two weeks ago.

Borthwick names his squad for the Six Nations next Tuesday with the head coach needing to turn England’s fortunes around as scrutiny on his position grows following a disappointing 2024.

Exeter sent winger Paul Brown-Bampoe out on a short-term loan to National League One side Plymouth Albion before Christmas to ensure the 22-year-old winger continues to play competitive rugby having fallen out of the first team at Chiefs after an explosive start to the season.