Bristol Bears’ star tighthead prop Kyle Sinckler is set to miss England’s tour to Australia this summer through injury.
Sinkler, who toured with the British and Irish Lions for a second time last summer, is to be given the summer off from rugby to let the ‘niggles’ in his back settle.
The front-rower hasn't played since Bristol's Heineken Champions Cup game with Sale Sharks on April 15 because of the back problem that flared up during the Six Nations and both club and country have come to the conclusion a summer of rest is the best course of action for the 52-cap England international with the 2023 Rugby World Cup now just 15 months away.
Sinckler, 29, will not be alone in spending the summer back home rather than playing in a tough three-Test tour of Australia as first choice inside and outside centres Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade will also not travel.
While there is no intention for Sinckler to have an operation on his back, Exeter Chiefs star Slade has had a routine tidy-up surgery on his shoulder and Sale Sharks powerhouse Tuilagi has had a similar procedure on his knee.
The medical team at Chiefs are understood to be confident to have Slade fit for the start of the 2022/23 Premiership season which gets underway on September 9.
The absence of three of England’s key starters when fit, provides head coach Eddie Jones with the opportunity to Test alternative options in three pivotal positions as he continues to search for a world beating midfield partnership in particular.
With Sinckler absent, Jones has brought in Exeter's rising star Patrick Schickerling into his training squad for this week's three-day training camp, along with Wasps' uncapped tighthead Biyi Alo to audion for a place on the plane to Australia along with Bath's 28-cap frontrower Will Stuart.
When asked directly last week about whether Sinckler was in a condition to tour with England this summer, Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam batted away the question, however earlier in May he told Bristol Live: “Kyle came back from the Six Nations with niggles and we have been working with him and talking with England, with the medical teams and the S&C teams, everyone is working to get rid of all these niggles and to get back him back to full fitness.”
“Whatever is going to happen he needs to have a break.
"All players are going to get a break, whether that is when the tour is on or after the tour to Australia.
“Every player wants to play in that World Cup and they will all have different ways or plans on how to get there and rest is always factored into everyone’s program but I think ultimately if you look at the team that goes on the tour before the World Cup is never the World Cup team.”
England will host Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday 19 June (3pm KO).
They will then travel to Australia to face the Wallabies in Perth (Saturday 2 July, 11.05am BST KO), Brisbane (Saturday 9 July, 11.05am BST KO) and Sydney (Saturday 16 July, 11.05am BST KO).
While the likes of Sinkler and Slade being absent this summer is undoubtedly bad news for England’s chances of a successful tour down under, it comes as a significant boost to their club sides with the players set to be fresher for the start of next season’s campaign having taken part in full pre-season providing fitness allows it.
