Riki Flutey will miss out on England's autumn internationals after being ruled out for up to three months with a shoulder injury.
England centre out of autumn campaign with shoulder injury
Riki Flutey will almost certainly miss out on England's autumn internationals after being ruled out for up to three months with a shoulder injury.
The England and Brive inside centre, who this morning had an arthroscopic examination of his left shoulder labrum, is now expected to be sidelined for up to three months.
Flutey picked up the injury during the British and Irish Lions' tour of South Africa earlier this year, since when he joined French side Brive from Wasps.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) said Flutey had surgery on his left shoulder.
"The surgeon has concluded, in conjunction with the England and Brive medical teams, that Riki will be unavailable for a period of up to three months and therefore it is unlikely that he will be able to prepare or take part in England's internationals in November," read an RFU statement.
Schedule
England are due to play Australia, Argentina and New Zealand in November, and the loss of the 29-year-old, who made his Test debut last November, is a
significant blow to Martin Johnson given his growing influence in England's
midfield.
A problem position since the retirement of Will Greenwood, Flutey began making an impact at inside centre in the second half of the Six Nations.
The setback means Johnson can ill afford to lose another key member of his back line - the reality facing him if Delon Armitage's own left shoulder injury proves serious.
Armitage was helped off with a suspected dislocation in the final quarter of
London Irish's 40-10 Guinness Premiership victory over Gloucester on Sunday.
The 25-year-old played in every one of England's matches last season after making debut in November, was due to undergo a scan today.
A statement read: "Further to an injury sustained to his left shoulder during the Guinness Premiership match between London Irish and Gloucester Rugby yesterday, Delon Armitage will have a scan today and the results will be available this evening.
"Delon will then see a specialist tomorrow morning to review the results of the scan. Once that consultation has taken place a further announcement will be made."
