Bristol prop Kyle Sinckler is expected to miss England’s tour to Australia owing to a back injury, according to the PA news agency.
Sinckler hasn’t played since Bristol were knocked out of the Heineken Champions Cup in mid-April by Sale.
While his ailment will not necessitate surgery, it is expected that the focus this summer will be on rest and therapy before the start of the next season as Bristol continues to manage his recuperation.
The 29-year-old, who has more than 50 caps, made his Test debut in 2016 and has been an important player in England head coach Eddie Jones’ reign.
Jones did not include him in a 35-man England team for a three-day training camp this week. Jones has already ruled out Sale centre Manu Tuilagi (knee) and Exeter back-row forward Sam Simmonds (hip) for the journey to Australia.
England will face the Wallabies in Perth on July 2, Brisbane seven days later, and Sydney on July 16!
And, with the Premiership play-offs and final still to come, Jones will be hoping for no additional setbacks.
Meanwhile, Jonny May and Jack Nowell have been invited to the three-day event in Teddington.
May made his return for Gloucester on Saturday, coming on as a second-half replacement after missing five months due to a knee injury.
Nowell, who injured his arm during England’s Guinness Six Nations defeat to France in March, also played for Exeter in the final round of Gallagher Premiership regular season action.
Biyi Alo, Charlie Atkinson, Freddie Clarke, Sam Jeffries, and Namibia-born Exeter prop Patrick Schickerling are all making their debut appearances in a senior England camp.
Premiership semi-finalists Leicester, Saracens, Harlequins, and Northampton were all passed over for selection.
Wasps back Paolo Odogwu and Bath centre Max Ojomoh are among the uncapped players.
Exeter hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie and Bath wing Anthony Watson will attend the camp to complete their recovery from injuries.
Jones said: “With a number of players unavailable because of the Premiership semi-finals, we’ve got the opportunity to call up some new players.
It’s a great opportunity to learn about them and see what potential they have to play a part in the Australia tour.”
May, like Exeter lock Jonny Hill, missed the whole Six Nations competition this season.
Hill has been out since early January with a stress fracture in his lower leg.
In other news, talented London Irish back Henry Arundell gets another chance to shine as Jones runs the rule over players ahead of their trip to Australia.
