We are about to reach the halfway point in this year’s 6 Nations championship but there have been a lot of players missing and more have been injured over the past few weeks.
Here’s a guide on each country’s injury worries heading into round 3.
Firstly, championship leaders England, who head to Wales looking to make it three wins from three. They will have to do so without a number of key players.
It was confirmed during the week that Chris Ashton will miss the clash with a calf strain, adding to the news that Mako Vunipola will miss the rest of the tournament with an ankle injury.
Lock Maro Itoje has also been ruled out as he continues to recover from a knee injury sustained earlier in the competition.
These are the latest to join the list of injuries that have seen players such as Chris Robshaw, Dylan Hartley, Anthony Watson, Sam Underhill and Jonathan Joseph be sidelined.
Wales:
Their opposition Wales are missing a couple of players such as centre Scott Williams who is out with a back injury and Rhys Patchell who has a hamstring injury.
The worst injury update for the Welsh is that Taulupe Faletau, who had been missing from action for a while, made his comeback over the weekend only to suffer a fractured forearm.
The Welsh have had more positive news this week than bad news as Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny have been passed fit to play and will offer them a huge boost.
France face Scotland this weekend too with the French missing only a few key men with Teddy Thomas, who is recovering from a thigh injury, being joined by Yoann Maestri and Cedric Gomes Sa on the injury list.
Scotland:
However, their opponents, Scotland have a host of injuries. The high-profile injuries are to star full-back, Stuart Hogg, and star fly-half, Finn Russell, who are out due to a shoulder injury and concussion respectively.
Huw Jones is out for the remainder of the competition after suffering knee ligament damage. While the other players out are Ryan Wilson (ligaments), WP Nel (calf), Hamish Watson (head), John Hardie (head), David Denton (head), John Barclay (ruptured Achilles) and Sam Skinner (ankle).
In the last game of the weekend Italy host Ireland. Italy will be without captain fantastic, Sergio Parisse due to a concussion he sustained playing for Stade Francais over the weekend and Matteo Minozzi as he recovers from a knee injury.
Ireland:
Ireland on the other hand, will be without backs Garry Ringrose and Will Addison, with hamstring and back injuries respectively and back-rower Rhys Ruddock (hamstring strain).
They add to a list that already contains long-term absentees Luke McGrath (knee), CJ Stander (fractures), Dan Leavy (calf) and Devin Toner (ankle).
The positives for Ireland are that Tadhg Beirne and Ian Henderson have returned to the squad following time away through injuries and Kieran Marmion is back and will line out for Connacht this weekend to gain game time.
The list for the six teams is long, but one can only imagine what the players out will add if they are back for their respective countries come the World Cup in Japan later this year.
