England star ruled out of Nations Championship
UPDATE: England scrumhalf Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of their upcoming Nations Championship matches with a hamstring injury suffered last weekend.
The 29-year-old underwent a scan on Monday on the injury sustained playing for Northampton against Gloucester in the English Prem.
Mitchell, who has played 32 times for England, will miss the games against Australia, Japan and New Zealand, as well as the Nations Championship finals later this month.
It is the fourth hamstring injury he has suffered this year.
Jack van Poortvliet is likely to continue at scrumhalf for Steve Borthwick’s men in his absence.
Mitchell’s Northampton teammate Fin Smith is facing a race against time to be fit for Australia’s visit to Twickenham on Sunday as he battles his second calf problem of the year.
Head coach Borthwick will give Smith until Wednesday to prove he can take part in the match, with George Ford and Marcus Smith on standby to replace him at flyhalf.
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