Henry Slade and Brad Shields have both been ruled out of action for the foreseeable future with injury in what will be a concern for England as the Six Nations approaches.

Exeter Chiefs centre Slade has been ruled out for a “little while” by the club’s director of rugby Rob Baxter as he suffers with injuries to both his ankles. 

“Sladey’s going to be out for a little while. He’s picked up injuries to both of his ankles. He tried hobbling along with one, until he picked up the second. The second injury is more of a concern as it’s an injury in and around an old injury, which he had had previously plated. Right now, he’s continually being assessed and we will know more in due course. It is, however, not something he will be able to get over in a week or two – it’s more significant than that,” he said.

It means that Slade will be in a race against time to be fit for England’s Six Nations opener against France on February 2nd, while he will also miss crucial games for the Chiefs over the Christmas period, including this weekend’s game against Premiership holder Saracens. 

Meanwhile, Shields’ injury is a recurrence of the same injury that kept him out of England’s Rugby World Cup squad in Japan earlier this year. 

The 28-year-old suffered a foot injury before the tournament started and was ruled out ahead of the squad selection, and it appears unlikely that he will return to the international stage during the opening rounds of the Six Nations according to Wasps director of rugby Dai Young. 

“It’s a massive blow, unfortunately he just seems to pick up these niggles and can’t get a run. It’s a similar injury but the other side [of the foot]. It’s a plantar fascia which is the back of the foot. In the World Cup he did it on the outside, this time he’s done it on the inside. It’s not quite as bad as it was then … four to six weeks rather than six to eight,” he said to Stuff.

Much like Slade it means that he will miss his club’s crucial matches over the Christmas as they look to move away from the bottom of the table, where they currently sit in 10th. 

England head coach Eddie Jones will be hoping that both will have speedy recoveries, but things don’t look great for the duo right now.

Ireland could be without forward Tadhg Beirne for their Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 1st due to injury.

The lock was carried off during Munster’s Champions Cup loss to Saracens on Saturday and he appeared to be in a lot of discomfort. 

While it is unclear what exactly the injury is at the moment, Munster head coach Johann van Graan was not upbeat while speaking after the game. 

“We lost Tadhg. It looks pretty serious. I have got no idea. I don’t know. I don’t even want to speculate on it. I haven’t spoken to him,” he said to Off the Ball.

It appears as though the former Scarlets player picked up a knock to the ankle and is now looking like he could be out of action for a while and with the Six Nations fast approaching he could miss out on the start of the competition. 

As well as Beirne Munster lost prop John Ryan to a calf injury during the game and captain Peter O’Mahony pulled up in the pre-match warm-up due to a groin injury, with the extent of both injuries unconfirmed. 

It has put the trio in doubt for Munster’s interprovincial derbies of the Christmas period as well as Ireland’s Six Nations and adds to new head coach Andy Farrell’s growing injury headache. 

Before this he was sweating on the fitness of fly-halves Johnny Sexton and Joey Carbery, as well as possible newcomer Ronan Kelleher. While the likes of Dan Leavy remain on the long-term injury list with problems stretching back months, while Leinster’s Ross Byrne was forced to leave the field early during his side’s win over Northampton Saints over the weekend with a leg injury. 

The hope will be that all will have swift recoveries and be in contention for the Irish come the Scotland game, but for now Farrell will have his fingers crossed as he awaits scans and results.

Leinster have confirmed that star fly-half Johnny Sexton has suffered a medial tear in his right knee, while Ronan Kelleher has also had an injury set-back.

Sexton, who went off injured during Leinster’s 43-16 victory over Northampton Saints last Saturday, underwent scans on his knee yesterday and saw a specialist who revealed that he will miss between 6 and 8 weeks of action. 

The 34-year-old is set to miss the opening weekend’s of the 2020 Six Nations as a result, with the first fixture at home to Scotland on February 1st, with Wales coming to town a week later. 

It will remain to be seen how quickly he recovers, but the likelihood is that he will aim to be fit for Ireland’s third game away to England on the 23rd. 

However, his injury causes a slight selection headache for new head coach Andy Farrell, who at this moment is without Sexton and Joey Carbery, but the latter is expected to return from injury later this month.

Although Sexton’s injury is a big blow, it could open the door once again for Connacht’s Jack Carty to get a run in the Irish line-up, while Leinster teammate Ross Byrne will take the reigns at club-level and with the form he is currently in, will fancy his chances of getting a call up to the national team having missed out on the Rugby World Cup squad. 

The injury also means that Sexton will miss all three of Leinster’s remaining Champions Cup pool fixtures as well as their three inter-provincial derbies over the coming month, with Byrne expected to be backed up by younger brother Harry and Ciaran Frawley. 

Although the bad news for both Leinster and Ireland doesn’t stop there with upcoming star hooker Ronan Kelleher expected to be side-lined for a period with a possible fractured hand, which he is thought to have suffered during last weekend’s game. 

It is thought that Kelleher was in poll position to earn his first call-up to the Irish side for the Six Nations after a blistering start to the season, but this may now dampen his hopes. 

Sean Cronin is believed to be nearing full-fitness once more, which would be a boost for both club and country as he could slot in seamlessly. 

The injuries are piling-up for Leinster, who will also miss centre Joe Tomane for the same period as Sexton through a hamstring injury, while Rory O’Loughlin will miss this weekend’s game with injury. 

James Ryan is also making his way through the back to play protocols after taking a knock to the head against the Saints, but could feature this Saturday. 

Leinster will hope that their squad can cope with the set-backs as they head into this weekend’s home fixture against Northampton, with younger stars now having the chance to lay a marker as the province look to make it 11 wins from 11 at the start of the season.