Courtney Lawes doubtful for England's summer tour to Australia after suffering gruesome injury

Courtney Lawes doubtful for England’s summer tour to Australia after suffering gruesome injury…. Northampton star could not bear to look after the bone came out of his thumb during Challenge Cup tie

  • Courtney Lawes was forced off in the first half of Saturday’s match
  • He is now a big doubt for Northampton’s Gallagher Premiership run-in 
  • The 33-year-old is also doubtful for the three-Test trip to Australia in July

Courtney Lawes has handed England a summer tour injury scare after it was confirmed he will see a hand specialist for diagnosis on a gruesome thumb problem.

Lawes – who captained Eddie Jones’ side in the last three games of their underwhelming Six Nations – was forced off in the first half of Northampton’s Challenge Cup defeat by Gloucester on Saturday night.

The 33-year-old forward is now a big doubt for Northampton’s Gallagher Premiership run-in. England face a three-Test trip to Australia in July.

Northampton forward Courtney Lawes suffered the gruesome injury on Saturday

Northampton forward Courtney Lawes suffered the gruesome injury on Saturday

‘Courtney had a compound dislocation of his thumb,’ said Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd.

‘It was quite nasty. The bone actually came out, but it either popped back in or it was put back in and it has been irrigated and sewn back up again. He has still got some medical decisions to be made around the skeletal function of the thumb and the muscle and ligament situation.

‘Until we get a medical view, all I can clearly say is he won’t play on Saturday. He didn’t want to look at it because he knew it was going to be a bit challenging. He was disappointed.’

Lawes – who suffered with concussion at the start of the year – has grown into a key leader for both club and country.

The 33-year-old forward is now a big doubt for Northampton’s Gallagher Premiership run-in

The 33-year-old forward is now a big doubt for Northampton’s Gallagher Premiership run-in

Asked if Lawes will be back before the end of the season, Boyd added: ‘The hand specialist will come back and whatever he says will happen. He certainly needs specialist consultation to make a decision on what is the best course of action for him going forward.’

Lawes’ Saints team-mate Dan Biggar is also set for a period on the sidelines after he was sent off against Gloucester for a dangerous tackle on Chris Harris.

Biggar will appeal at a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday to learn his fate as will Leicester’s England forward Ollie Chessum after his red card in the Tigers’ Champions Cup win over Clermont Auvergne.

Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards is set to stand down at the end of the season with a move to the Premiership club’s board on the cards.

The England forward is also doubtful for the three-Test trip to Australia in July

The England forward is also doubtful for the three-Test trip to Australia in July

Richards has been in charge at Kingston Park for the last decade. Newcastle defence coach Nick Easter will also move on.

Richards refused to confirm he is leaving on Tuesday but did admit he is considering his future.

‘I’ve been doing this for 25 years or so and it’s been a long haul to be honest,’ he said.

‘At the moment I’m talking to (Newcastle owner) Semore Kurdi about it. I’m still keen as mustard and still enjoy the match days. If I’ve got anything to announce, I’ll tell you one day.

‘Never once have I fallen out of love with the game.’

Former Newcastle fly-half and current head coach Dave Walder would be among the leading contenders to succeed Richards.

source: dailymail.co.uk