Good news for England as Harlequins issue Fin Baxter update

England loosehead Fin Baxter is on course to be fit to be available for Harlequins before the end of the season after stepping up his training programme following an operation on his foot, according to boss Jason Gilmore.

Baxter hasn’t played for Quins since their Champions Cup victory over Bayonne in December, and the injury ended a run of him being involved in 18 consecutive matches for England after he was ruled out of the Six Nations Championship.

Gilmore says that Quins are managing Baxter’s return to fitness in close contact with Steve Borthwick’s medical team and says that he will be available to play in England’s inaugural Nations Championship game against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina.

And he is confident that Baxter, who holds one of the RFU’s enhanced playing contracts, could be back for the final couple of games of the Gallagher PREM season, either at Saracens or against Northampton Saints at the Twickenham Stoop in early June.

“He’s going really well. We’re managing his rehab with England rugby at the moment. There’s potential he could be back for the last game before they go away on tour. And that’ll kind of be a joint conversation with us and England about what’s best for Fin.

“Is it best he gets half a game or a full game before he goes on tour, or is it best we just rest him, make sure that he’s right to play for England if he’s available.

“But look, fingers crossed, he can get back for the last game or two, hopefully, but we’ll see how we go. He’s back running and had a really good running session today (Wednesday).

“His rehab’s picked up in terms of intensity in that in the last two to three weeks. He had a big smile on his face this morning (Wednesday) when he got off the field. So, he’s getting a bit more confidence in the foot,” said Gilmore.