England star ‘touch and go’ for summer tour after injury hell

Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has revealed Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is ‘touch and go’ for a potential England return this summer after a nightmare shoulder injury.

The England winger suffered a dislocated shoulder on Premiership duty in December, but delays in getting surgery have meant he’s not taken to the pitch since.

‘Touch and go to be back before the end of the season’

“His rehab is going well, and it’s touch and go for him to be back for the end of the season,” Baxter told members of the media ahead of his side’s clash against Northampton Saints this weekend.

“It’s that sort of timeframe, around four weeks.”

With Baxter putting a four-week timeframe on the England back’s return, that puts him right back in the mix for the tour of the Americas should Steve Borthwick want to call on his services.

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But, given the length of time he’s been out of the game, it could also be better to leave him at home and get him fully ready for next season, and Baxter feels that puts Feyi-Waboso in a ‘no-lose situation’.

“He’s almost in a no-lose situation,” said the Exeter boss.

“He could get back up and running and fit, and perhaps be someone who England might want to take on tour if he’s ready to go.

“But, at the same time, if he had the summer off and he had a full pre-season with us, he’d also benefit from that.

“He’s one of those guys who’s in a fortunate position where whatever happens, he’s probably going to go OK.”

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The Chiefs ace is one of several England wingers finding fitness at the right time for the summer tour. Exeter teammate Tommy Wyatt is nearing a return from his hamstring injury, Ollie Sleightholme is likely to be back from his ankle injury by the tour to the Americas and Cadan Murley has made his return from a foot injury picked up on Six Nations duty.

Elsewhere, Ollie Hassle-Collins, Adam Radwan and Gabriel Ibitoye are also potential wing options.

Lions?

With Feyi-Waboso’s lengthy lay-off, it seems highly unlikely he will make Andy Farrell’s Lions squad announced later today, but Baxter hasn’t completely written off the winger’s hopes after his own coaching experience in a Lions year.

“I helped coach on an England tour many moons ago, and players were leaving us in Argentina every five minutes to join the Lions. Every time there was an injury or something changed.”

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