England scrum-half Alex Mitchell could miss next year’s Six Nations after an operation to fix recurring hamstring issues.
The 29-year-old, who was Steve Borthwick’s first-choice nine last season, has gone under the knife after suffering four hamstring injuries this year.
If Mitchell, who has recovered ahead of schedule in the past, follows an estimated four-month rehabilitation it would give him a chance of playing in England’s final two matches, against Wales and Scotland on 6 and 13 March.
Any setback however would leave him with only pre-tournament friendlies to play in for England before next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Mitchell’s latest hamstring injury, which came in Northampton’s win over Gloucester last month, ruled him out of this month’s Nations Championship campaign.
Mitchell suffered an injury to the same hamstring against Ireland in February and again against Fiji in July. He also tweaked his other hamstring – his left, non-kicking leg – in an England training camp in May.
Mitchell told the i Paper last month, external that he had been given the option, like skipper Maro Itoje, to skip England’s summer fixtures against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina, but opted to play instead.
While Jack van Poortvliet has emerged as Borthwick’s starting pick in Mitchell’s absence, there is competition behind the Leicester man with Bristol’s Harry Randall, Bath’s Ben Spencer and Mitchell’s club team-mate Archie McParland all vying for position.