Sanderson dismisses injury-prone talk as Sale face concerning absentee list

England scrumhalf Raffi Quirke’s debilitating run of serious injuries has required surgery to insert a screw in the wrist that already had a metal plate but Alex Sanderson, the Sale Sharks director of rugby, insists the player is not “predisposed to injuries”.

Last October Quirke broke his jaw and then then suffered the first wrist injury which forced him to sit out yet more rugby. He had already endured six months out after requiring an operation on a hamstring he pulled off the bone, making it back onto the pitch in October 2022.

Sanderson said: “The positive news is that he has had a successful operation on the same wrist he broke before and it was actually the plate that is in there that restricted movement that led to the break (when he fell backwards) and they have inserted a screw which all but guarantees that he will come back in all reality in the next six weeks.

“It is unfair and we have talked about that (run of injuries). How you come through those injuries dictates if you the minerals for professional sport. That is not the case with Raffi who has been dealt blow after blow after blow.

“He is not predisposed to injuries and is not overly heavy – he is well-muscled and athletic. He is in condition and it is just that he has had a terrible run of them. His luck will turn but right now you have to accept he has a had a tough run of it.”

Quirke, 24, broke into the England squad under Eddie Jones, the former head coach, and made his debut as a replacement for Ben Youngs against Australia in 2021, becoming the youngest scrumhalf since Nick Duncombe to wear the England No9 jersey. He came off the bench again in the match with South Africa, showing his pace with the winning try in a 27-26 victory at Twickenham.

Sale go into their opening Premiership clash with Harlequins at the Salford Community Stadium on Sunday still missing long-term injury absentees pop Nick Schonert, who could be fit by the end of October, and No8 Dan du Preez, while England lock Jonny Hill is not being discussed for selection yet in the aftermath of his confrontation with a Bath support at the end of last season.

He added: “Dan is supposed to come back in week four and Jonny is fit and available but we will see what happens with him. I cannot discuss where Jonny is at because it is too sensitive at the moment.”