Jason Gilmore puts positive spin on Fin Baxter's second surgery of the year

Harlequins boss Jason Gilmore admits that Fin Baxter missing England’s three-game Nations Championship campaign this summer might be a “blessing in disguise” after the loosehead underwent a second operation on a foot injury.

Baxter hasn’t played for Quins since their Investec 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.

He had been on course to play for Quins in their final game of the season against Northampton Saints next Saturday, but the operation to remove a screw from a plate in his foot means he won’t face South Africa, Fiji and Argentina.

But Gilmore says that now Baxter can focus on getting fit for the start of next season and will give him a run towards the World Cup in Australia at the end of 2027.

“He had a bit of a hiccup a couple of weeks ago and has had to have a little bit more work done on his foot. He’ll be out of the England tour but will be back early in pre-season to get himself ready for us and then make a big run for that World Cup.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Saracens

05:00

30 May 26

Harlequins

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“Fin had a screw in his foot, and it was just aggravating his running mechanics and that type of thing. I’m not a doctor in terms of the ins and outs of it, but it also stirred up a little bit of an issue, so he’s had that removed.

“I spoke to him yesterday, and he feels much better in it already, but it’ll just take a little bit of time to heal, and then we’ll start to load him up in the pre-season.

“I think it might be a blessing in disguise for him that he isn’t getting rushed back, but doesn’t have to feel the pressure of having to come back quickly and then play in international rugby without having pulled a boot on for a long time.

“He can get his loadings and can get some really good rugby development, physical development now in the pre-season and then launch it next year because he’s going to be so crucial for us and he’s obviously a cornerstone of that England pack for the World Cup,” said Gilmore.