England will be without Courtney Lawes for their upcoming Tests after the lock was sidelined for 12 weeks with an ankle injury.

Lawes, who is one of England’s most experienced locks with 85 Test caps, was injured during Northampton Saints’ loss to the Sale Sharks this past weekend.

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Northampton on Wednesday confirmed in a statement that Lawes’ injury will require surgery, which will keep him out for the rest of the year.

‘Following consultation between the club’s medical staff and a specialist, Courtney Lawes will undergo surgery on the ankle injury he sustained against Sale Sharks last week,’ Northampton said in a statement.

‘The 31-year-old England lock will require a rehabilitation period of approximately 12 weeks.’

It is a second injury blow for England, after centre Manu Tuilagi was ruled out for the next six months with an achillies injury he suffered in the same match. Both Lawes and Tuilagi started for England in last year’s World Cup final.

England have six upcoming fixtures starting with the uncapped Quilter Cup against the Barbarians on 25 October.

Following a trip to Rome to face Italy (31 Oct)  in the final round of the delayed 2020 Six Nations, England will play four matches as part of the Autumn Nations Cup.

England coach Eddie Jones on Monday named a 28-man training squad for a three-day training camp this week.

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