Exeter and England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie will miss at the least the beginning of the Six Nations with a “severe” ankle damage that's more likely to want surgical procedure.
Cowan-Dickie has not travelled with the Chiefs to South Africa for his or her Champions Cup match in opposition to the Bulls.
England start their Six Nations marketing campaign in opposition to Scotland at Twickenham on 4 February.
“Luke's damage appears to be like comparatively severe,” Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter instructed BBC Radio Devon.
“He is seeing a surgeon at present; that may perhaps give us a extra definitive consequence and timing.”
Cowan-Dickie has been capped 41 instances for England and is in his closing few months with Exeter after signing for Top 14 side Montpellier subsequent season.
Baxter prompt, nevertheless, that the ahead may return earlier than the top of the present marketing campaign.
“It does appear like an operation goes to be required however that mentioned, at this stage, it would not be a season-ending scenario,” Baxter added.
“We may nonetheless see him again for a very good chunk of the season if rehab and every little thing goes effectively.”
Scotland's Hogg additionally sidelined
Exeter full-back Stuart Hogg has additionally not travelled to Pretoria as he's nonetheless affected by a heel downside.
The Scotland worldwide has not performed in Exeter's two most up-to-date matches.
“He ran on Saturday morning, was doing a health check to see if there was a chance of him coming right here,” Baxter continued.
“However his heel damage was nonetheless too sore for him to run at any pace or at any distance so we needed to name off Saturday.”
