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.

England scrum-half Willi Heinz is set to make his first appearance of the season for Gloucester tonight as they take on the Worcester Warriors.

Heinz has been out of action since England’s Rugby World Cup semi-final triumph over the All Blacks after suffering a hamstring injury, meaning he missed the final and has had to sit out the Premiership and Champions Cup season to date. 

The 33-year-old will captain the team and partner Danny Cipriani in the half-backs, who also returns to the fold after sitting out last weekend’s defeat to Connacht in the Champions Cup. 

It is a welcome boost for the team, who currently sit in seventh position in the Premiership table with only two wins from their opening five games, while on the European stage they are still in contention to make the knock-out stages, but last weekend’s loss has put a dent in their hopes. 

The game will also be the club’s 500th in the competition and they know that a win will lift them above their west county rivals. 

Heinz’s return will also be a boost for England head coach Eddie Jones as he looks towards the upcoming Six Nations campaign, which the No 9 will hope to be a part of. 

English Premiership side the Exeter Chiefs have confirmed that four key members of their staff have agreed contract extensions until 2023.

Top of the list is director of rugby Rob Baxter who has been at the club since the 2009/10 season when the Chiefs were in the Championship and has overseen their transformation into one of the top teams in the country. 

Along with Baxter both head coach Ali Hepher and skills coach Ricky Pellow, who joined at the same time as the director of rugby have agreed deals that will see them remain with the club for 14 seasons. 

While forwards coach Rob Hunter has also signed on having joined the Chiefs in 2013. 

Baxter admitted he is delighted to put pen to paper on a new deal, but is happier that his colleagues have signed on with him.

“I’m absolutely delighted to have agreed to a new three-year contract extension. However, I’m even more pleased that the other coaches have also agreed to similar extensions. It’s a real indication of how happy we all are working alongside one another each day. Together, we understand the ambitions of the club moving forward – and of how exciting this next period is going to be for the rugby club. As a group, we all feel that everything we want to achieve can be achieved here over these next three years, so it’s exciting times for all of us and I’m looking forward to us building on the fantastic foundations we have laid as a collective group,” he said.

The Chiefs are currently sitting third in the Premiership, and having finished runners-up to Saracens in the last couple of seasons they will fancy their chances of going a step further following Sarries 35-point deduction. 

Meanwhile, their focus is currently on the Champions Cup where they face rivals Sale Sharks this Sunday as they also look to build something special on the European stage.