England have been dealt a major injury blow ahead of their Six Nations opener against Wales with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso ruled out.
Feyi-Waboso, who missed the entirety of last year’s tournament with a shoulder problem, had been set to start on the right wing, but suffered a leg muscle injury in training on Thursday.
The Exeter youngster subsequently underwent a scan on the issue and has been withdrawn from the starting side, with Tom Roebuck installed into the back three.
Roebuck, who enjoyed a breakthrough 2025, had been left out by Steve Borthwick, having not quite been deemed ready to return from his own toe issue when England revealed their side on Monday.
His readiness to replace Feyi-Waboso is nonetheless a boost for Borthwick, with Henry Arundell and Freddie Steward making up the rest of the back three. It will be Roebuck’s first appearance since starting the wing over the All Blacks in November.
"Steve said the other day he'd be ready in a couple of days. In an ideal world we'd have given him an extra week, but the world isn't ideal as we know," England assistant coach Tom Harrison said of Roebuck.
"He trained fully on Thursday and he's been exceptional around the squad. I'm excited to see him go.
"We do a really good job of what ifs and what might happen and combinations. Does it disrupt some plans? Yes it does, because it's changing a player.
"But we've done everything we can to make sure the next player is ready."
A setback for Feyi-Waboso is nonetheless a real shame for a player in excellent form for Exeter. The 23-year-old wing started all four of England’s games in November, scoring against Fiji and Argentina to help extend their winning run to 11 matches.
"We're gutted for him. He's a very emotionally resilient guy and a hard working guy," flanker Sam Underhill said.
"Anyone doing a medical degree and who is playing rugby probably has a level of resilience anyway. He's a good guy no doubt he'll be back better for it."
Regular captain Maro Itoje will begin the match against Wales from the bench, with hooker Jamie George skippering the starting side.
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