At just 22 years old and in peak form, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, the English winger for Exeter Chiefs, will unfortunately miss the 2025 Six Nations tournament. Injured in December during a Premiership match, the breakout star of 2024 won’t be fit in time for the tournament, which kicks off on February 1 against Ireland, and is expected to miss the entire competition.
A Major Setback for Feyi-Waboso
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, the promising England wing, will be absent for the entire 2025 Six Nations tournament. After suffering a shoulder dislocation in a Premiership match against Sale Sharks, he ultimately decided to undergo surgery following a more accurate diagnosis obtained from a second medical examination. While non-surgical options had been considered initially to try to make him available for the competition, this operation will keep him off the field for 10 to 12 weeks.
It is a massive disappointment for Feyi-Waboso, who had hoped to make a lasting impression on the international stage to strengthen his chances of being selected for the British and Irish Lions squad for their 2025 Australia tour. After an exceptional 2024 year, marked by five tries in eight appearances and a nomination for World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year, his hopes of featuring in this prestigious tour are now dashed.
Steve Borthwick’s Challenge to Rebuild England’s Backline
This injury is another blow for Steve Borthwick, already without George Furbank, the 2024 regular full-back. The England coach will now need to reshuffle his backline for the tournament. Tommy Freeman seems a natural candidate to step in on one of the wings, unless Borthwick opts to play him in the center. Ollie Sleightholme, who scored all four of his international tries during the recent Autumn Nations Series, may benefit from this absence. Though England’s depth should be able to cover the loss, it is still a significant setback.
With key fixtures against Ireland, France, and Scotland, these absences add extra challenges for an England team that will need to be inventive to overcome them.
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