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Saracens reveal full extent of Elliot Daly injury as Six Nations written off

By Ian Cameron
(Photo by Jurgen Kessler/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Saracens have revealed the full extent of Elliot Daly's injury which will mean he will miss the entirety of the Guinness Six Nations.

Earlier in the week Daly was withdrawn from Steve Borthwick's England squad and replaced with Bath centre Ollie Lawrence. Now Saracens have revealed he will be out for three months and won't feature again until the backend of the season.

A short Saracens statement reads: "Elliot Daly suffered a hamstring injury in the Heineken Champions Cup match against Edinburgh. It is estimated he will return to action in around 12 weeks."

It puts a serious dent in Daly's hopes of playing his way into Borthwick's Rugby World Cup squad. The British & Irish Lion last featured for England in the 2022 Guinness Six Nations but has been fine form for Saracens.

Northampton forward Courtney Lawes (calf) and Gloucester hooker George McGuigan (knee) are also out of training, with England kicking off their Six Nations campaign against Scotland in eight days’ time.

Lawes has become a major doubt for the Scotland clash and there is an escalating crisis at hooker.

Lawes incurred calf damage during Northampton’s Heineken Champions Cup clash with La Rochelle on Saturday and was due to undergo a scan.

The 33-year-old flanker missed the Autumn Nations Series because of concussion before his comeback was further delayed by a glute injury, and now one of England’s two vice-captains misses at least one week of training.

McGuigan could also miss the opener, placing strain on England’s resources at hooker in the wake of George’s concussion and Exeter hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie being sidelined due to an ankle injury that could make him a long-term absentee.

Blamire now joins Bath forward Tom Dunn, who was called up on Monday, and uncapped Jack Walker as England’s squad hookers.

England play Scotland on February 4th.

additional reporting PA