The versatile England forward Courtney Lawes, one of the team's most impressive performers in the November rugby internationals, will be sidelined for three months and will miss the Six Nations after suffering a knee injury.
The 21-year-old, who can play lock or flanker, damaged a medial cruciate ligament playing for his club Northampton Saints against Leicester on the weekend.
The club says it's too early to know if Lawes will require surgery.
The Six Nations begins on February the 4th when Wales host England at the Millennium stadium.
