PREM Italy star could be doubt for start of Six Nations

Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter admits that the club should know the extent of the damage to the shoulder injury back row star Ross Vintcent suffered last weekend in the next 48 hours.

Vintcent, 23, who was born in Johannesburg and raised in Dubai, dislocated his shoulder during Italy’s 32-14 defeat to South Africa in Turin and is travelling back to Devon later today.

The Chiefs will then assess the damage he has suffered, and a decision will be taken by the end of the week on whether he needs an operation, which will keep him on the sidelines into the New Year.

Vincent has been in outstanding form for club and country this season, scoring three tries in three Gallagher PREM games, helping The Chiefs into third place in the table with three wins from their five games.

Baxter is keeping his fingers crossed that the damage isn’t too bad, but he did have Richard Capstick back for the first time this season during last Friday’s defeat at Sale Sharks.

“He has dislocated his shoulder and is travelling back today,” he said on Vintcent. “We will assess the scans that he has already had, and we will probably get some further scans done, and we will start the process if he needs an operation or just plain rehab.

“And we will know that in the next 48 hours. Ross has been very good for us, and I think he has been outstanding for Italy in this international window. It’s very unfortunate for him and for us.

“Again, it’s another thing to work through. Hopefully, we will get him back into rehab pretty quickly and try and get him back as soon as possible. Dislocated shoulders, even if they go really well they can take a little bit of time to get right.

“If he needs an operation, you are looking at 10 weeks for a fast return, so we will see where we stand in a little bit of time,” added Baxter.