Sale confirm surgery for England duo but Steve Borthwick given hope

England boss Steve Borthwick has been handed a Nations Championship boost with the news that Sale Sharks hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie will be fit for their opener against South Africa on July 4, despite being ruled out for the rest of the domestic season.

Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson confirmed that Cowan-Dickie spent part of Easter Monday on the operating table, having surgery on a broken forearm he sustained in last weekend’s Champions Cup win over Harlequins, but will be fit for Ellis Park.

And he has also said that loosehead Bevan Rodd could be on the sidelines for four months with a shoulder that he dislocated at the Twickenham Stoop, and that he is being seen by a surgeon later today.

It will be next season before Rodd, who has played for England 16 times, and came off the bench in all five of this season’s Six Nations games for Bristol Bears, Ellis Genge will be seen again on a rugby pitch.

“It’s season-ending injuries for them both. Luke’s got a broken arm. It’s a straight break to his forearm. He’s had to have it pinned. It was done yesterday, and he should be good, all being well, to make the England tour if selected.

“Bevan has got a dislocated shoulder and is seeing the surgeon today. That’s more of a 14 to 16-week job I’ve been told, but we’ll get more information after he has seen the surgeon,” he said.

Sanderson has confirmed that England scrum-half Raffi Quirke, who is leaving for Newcastle Red Bulls at the end of the season, will be on the sidelines for another five weeks with a hamstring injury.

He is still waiting for a date for Tom Curry’s return from the calf injury he picked up in the warm-up before England’s Six Nations defeat in Italy, but it won’t be against Leinster this weekend.

“He should come back this season. And I know that’s quite wide, you know. But it won’t be right for this weekend. We’re pushing, but he’s not ready. He’s on the field doing bits and pieces, but it’s not full training,” he added.