Six Nations blow for England as Harlequins prop Fin Baxter ruled out of tournament following foot surgery

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Harlequins prop Fin Baxter has been ruled out of the Six Nations, following surgery on a foot injury. It's a real blow for England, with Baxter becoming a mainstay for the team lately. He has featured in England's last 18 games, scoring his first try against France in last year's Six Nations. England begin their campaign at home to Wales next week, before a trip to Murrayfield to face Scotland.

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England have suffered another injury blow ahead of the Six Nations, with Harlequins prop Fin Baxter ruled out of the tournament.

The 23-year-old has been an England mainstay lately, featuring in their last 18 matches.

But surgery on a foot injury means he will have to sit out the big show in Febr uary and March.

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With Ellis Genge backed up by Bevan Rodd and Emmanuel Iyogun on the loose-head side, there will be no replacement for Baxter.

There may be concerns over experience however, with Iyogun yet to win his first cap and Rodd having made only two appearances since the 2023 World Cup.

Harlequins coach Jason Gilmore did express hope that Baxter would feature during the Six Nations after his side were beaten by Leicester last Saturday.

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"I know he went in with the England medical staff this week to see how the foot is," Gilmore said.

"I think he’ll feature in the Six Nations, but when that is, I’m not too sure."

But England now know they will take on Europe's finest in the coming weeks without Baxter, as they prepare for their Six Nations opener at home to Wales.

Baxter made his England debut in 2024, and scored his first try in their dramatic victory over France in last year's Six Nations.

England have already lost Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour for the Six Nations, leaving Vilikesa Sela and Trevor Davison as understudies to Joe Heyes at tight-head.

The England squad are in Girona this week preparing for the tournament. One player not with them is flanker Ben Curry, who continues to recover after surgery on a hamstring injury. Jack Kenningham has been called to the training party.

England will aim to go one better than last year, when they finished second behind France in the final table.

Following their clash with Wales next week, England will take on Scotland at Murrayfield, and then a crunch clash with Ireland at Twickenham.

After a two-week break, England finish with two away matches in March, against Italy and France.

The Six Nations starts on Thursday, February 5 with a huge match between France and Ireland in Paris.

Unusually, the tournament will kick off on a Thursday, to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, which is live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Before England's meeting with Wales on February 7, Italy will take on Scotland in Rome.

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