England centre Slade out of Six Nations, Tuilagi to return

Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | December 9, 2015

Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade will miss England’s Six Nations campaign because of a broken leg and ankle damage, but Leicester Tigers counterpart Manu Tuilagi is set to return to club action ahead of the European international tournament, which begins on February 6th 2016.

New Red Rose head coach Eddie Jones has pledged to build a young side capable of challenging at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, after England flopped as tournament hosts under predecessor Stuart Lancaster.

Slade to miss at least four months

Slade, 22, scored a try on the occasion of his second cap, as England smashed Uruguay 60-3 in a dead rubber that completed Pool A, and was competing with Jonathan Joseph with a spot in the XV.

Chiefs coach Rob Baxter would not be drawn on a return date for Slade. “We are certainly not pencilling in any date for Henry’s return because we know it is long-term,” he said.

“We will start talking about a return date in eight to 10 weeks’ time when we know a bit more – it will take a bit of time though and a lengthy rehab process.”

Joining Slade in missing the Six Nations is loosehead prop Alex Corbisiero, as the Northampton Saints man needs knee surgery.