- During the sale match in December, the player’s shoulder popped out and then came back in.
- In theory, Steve Borthwick has the final say, but it’s likely the wing will make the decision.
- Feyi-Waboso has scored five tries in his first eight Test appearances in 2024.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is in a dilemma over whether to have surgery on his dislocated shoulder this weekend. This could lead to his exclusion from the Six Nations.
Mail Sport reports that Exeter’s 22-year-old England wing has been advised it is a ’50-50 call’ between playing after rehabilitation or undergoing surgery and accepting that he will be out of action for around three months. I understand.
Under the terms of the latest club-country PGP deal, national team manager Steve Borthwick has been involved in the deliberations and theoretically he has the final say on the handling of the situation.
England are understandably keen for Fay-Waboso to take part in the Championship, which begins in Dublin on February 1, but the decision is thought to be left to the player’s discretion.
Feyi-Waboso suffered the injury early in Chiefs’ Premiership loss to Sale in Salford on December 21 when his shoulder popped out and went back into the socket. He missed Exeter’s clash with Gloucester, who won their first league win of the season, after a scan was inconclusive.
A second scan was performed on Tuesday. An expert reviewed case information and spoke with all parties over the weekend. Now Feyi-Waboso, who is training to become a doctor, will consider her preferred course of action.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso faces a dilemma over whether to have surgery for a dislocated shoulder this weekend.
England are understandably keen for Feyi-Waboso to be available for the Championship.
National team coach Steve Borthwick has been involved in the deliberations and theoretically has the final say.
If he opts for surgery he will miss the Six Nations and return in time to spark the struggling club’s run-in to the end of the season. Losing him would be a huge blow to Borthwick.
He was a breakout star in 2024, scoring five tries in his first eight Test appearances, pledging allegiance to England over his country of birth, Wales.
Feyi-Waboso, along with Tommy Freeman, was one of only two wings to be handed one of the first batch of 17 Enhanced EPS contracts awarded by Borthwick to players of national significance.
If he is forced to be absent, Ollie Sleightholme and Tom Roebuck will be the main contenders for a starting spot. However, it is possible that the manager could consider appointing Freddie Steward on the wing and deploying Marcus Smith at full-back.
Meanwhile, Sale flyhalf George Ford is racing to return to full fitness for the Six Nations after suffering an injury in the 38-0 win at Bristol.
His director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, told Mail Sport: ‘George has a slight strain in one of his groin tendons. He should be fine in the Six Nations. He probably would have avoided it (serious injury). Bill Mata sat on him and he was crushed by Mata because he was huge. ‘His muscles were stable in the pelvic area but there was very slight tension in the tendons.’
