A major blow for England's front row! The already stretched England rugby squad faces another setback as prop Fin Baxter has been officially ruled out of the upcoming Six Nations tournament. This news adds to a growing list of concerns for the team's front-line players heading into this prestigious competition.
Baxter, a 23-year-old powerhouse from Harlequins, has been a consistent presence for England, featuring in their last 18 matches. Unfortunately, a recent foot injury has necessitated surgery, effectively ending his hopes of adding to that impressive streak during the Six Nations. He was, however, named among five players on Friday who were undergoing rehabilitation alongside the main 36-strong squad.
But here's where it gets tricky for the loose-head position. While Ellis Genge is a strong presence, his backups are Bevan Rodd and Emmanuel Iyogun. The concern here is that Rodd has only managed two appearances for England since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and Iyogun is still awaiting his very first cap. This means that if Genge were to face any issues, the depth in that crucial loose-head prop role becomes a significant question mark.
England's opening match of the tournament is scheduled for February 7th, where they will host Wales. The pressure is already on, and this situation certainly doesn't help.
And this is the part most people miss: the tight-head situation is equally concerning. England has already lost Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour for the Six Nations. This leaves Vilikesa 'Billy' Sela and Trevor Davison, who collectively have only three caps, as the primary understudies to Joe Heyes at tight-head. This lack of experience in both prop positions is a genuine worry.
In other squad news, flanker Ben Curry, who was also undergoing rehabilitation, has been sent back to his club, Sale. In his place, Harlequins' Jack Kenningham has been called up. Kenningham has some international experience, having played for England in an uncapped match against a France XV in June. His inclusion will bolster the back row, an area that was already quite competitive.
What do you think about England's prop depth heading into the Six Nations? Is this a crisis, or can the team overcome these challenges? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
