England’s preparations for the Calcutta Cup have been overshadowed by the fallout from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s shoulder injury, which has raised concerns over the Rugby Football Union’s new central contracting system. The young winger, who initially dislocated his shoulder in December while playing for Exeter, reinjured it during a rehab session at England’s training camp, effectively ruling him out for the rest of the season. With the British & Irish Lions squad set to be announced while he remains sidelined, his hopes of touring Australia are now in jeopardy.
Exeter expressed their frustration with the situation in a brief statement, confirming that Feyi-Waboso aggravated his injury under England’s supervision. Initially, the club had planned for him to undergo surgery immediately after the injury, a route they believed was best for his recovery. However, the decision-making process was complicated by England’s involvement under the Professional Game Partnership (PGP), a new agreement that grants the national team greater control over players on enhanced contracts.
The winger ultimately opted for a rehab-based approach in an attempt to return in time for the latter stages of the Six Nations. However, when called into England camp, he underwent a series of tests that resulted in him reinjuring the shoulder, finally leading to surgery. The lengthy delay between the original injury and the operation has sparked debate over the effectiveness of the new system, which was designed to improve player welfare and streamline decision-making.
Exeter’s director of rugby had previously voiced his concerns over the process, suggesting that the involvement of multiple parties had significantly slowed things down. The delay in surgery has now left Feyi-Waboso unable to contribute to England’s campaign and uncertain about his Lions prospects. England’s coaching staff, while disappointed to lose a promising talent, maintained that the rehab decision had been the player’s own. They expressed confidence that he would make a strong return once recovered.
Meanwhile, England have also suffered another setback ahead of their clash with Scotland, as George Martin has been ruled out after taking a knock to his knee in training. Initially named on the bench, the forward has now been replaced by Ted Hill, who is set to earn his third international cap and his first in four years. Hill, primarily a flanker, has played as a lock at times for Bath and is expected to bring athleticism and physicality to the squad.
England captain Maro Itoje spoke highly of Hill’s qualities, describing him as a supreme athlete and likening him to Clark Kent and Superman. With the team already adjusting to injuries and selection changes, the inclusion of Hill adds another layer of intrigue to an already crucial fixture against Scotland.
