Exeter have confirmed that hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie suffered a “significant knee ligament injury” in England’s Six Nations win over Wales on Saturday.
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said that Cowan-Dickie requires surgery and could be out until the end of the season.
“It’s a pretty significant knee ligament injury, which will need an operation,” said Baxter. “He’s going to be out for a significant amount of time, possibly until the end of the season.
“As I said, the biggest blow is for Luke himself as he’s just cemented himself as a starter for England. He’s going well, he’s part of their leadership group and he’s a key player both for us and England.
“That said, he’s a very good rehabber and if there is a chance for him to get back, 100 per cent he is the guy who can do it, so don’t write him off just yet.”
England have Newcastle’s Jamie Blamire with them in camp in Bristol this week, and he is likely to be Jamie George’s understudy for the final two rounds of the Six Nations against Ireland and France.
