Six Nations 2025: England and Steve Borthwick dealt major blow as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso ruled out of tournament
Updated 08/01/2025 at 17:23 GMT
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Exeter Chiefs and England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is set to miss the entirety of the 2025 Six Nations after opting to have shoulder surgery. The 22-year-old dislocated his shoulder in a Gallagher Premiership defeat to Sale Sharks. It means head coach Steve Borthwick will be without two of his starting back three after Northampton Saints full-back George Furbank broke his arm.
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England's hopes of landing a first Six Nations title since 2020 have suffered a setback with the news that first-choice winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will miss the entire tournament after opting to undergo shoulder surgery.
The Exeter Chiefs speedster dislocated his shoulder in a 28-10 Gallagher Premiership loss away to Sale Sharks at the end of last year and has taken the decision to go under the knife.
Feyi-Waboso is one of 17 England internationals on an enhanced Elite Player Squad contract with England, which gives head coach Steve Borthwick the final say on sports science decisions.
It means Borthwick will be without two of his starting back three, with Northampton Saints full-back George Furbank also out with a broken arm.
It will provide British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell with a headache too. Farrell has officially begun his duties ahead of the summer tour of Australia and would have been eager to assess Feyi-Waboso in the cut and thrust of the Six Nations.
England endured a difficult Autumn Nations Series, losing close contests against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa before rounding out the campaign with a big win over Eddie Jones’ Japan, but Feyi-Waboso was one of Borthwick’s standout players.
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His absence means there will be more squad disruption ahead of England’s opener away to Ireland on February 1.
Northampton’s Ollie Sleightholme is likely to come into the starting XV either on the wing or at full-back, while the likes of Sale's Tom Roebuck, Bath’s Joe Cokanasiga and Bristol Bears’ Gabriel Ibitoye have shown fine form on the wing for their respective clubs during this season’s Premiership.
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Borthwick also faces tough decisions elsewhere. Whether he opts to utilise Marcus Smith at fly-half or full-back is sure to spark debate, while Saracens number eight Tom Willis turned in a stunning display against Bristol Bears on Saturday to boost his selection hopes.
England are ranked seventh in the world and haven’t won more than three matches in a Six Nations campaign since they last lifted the trophy in 2020.
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