England flanker Richard Hill will miss the autumn internationals and could miss the entire Six Nations after having an operation on his left knee. The Saracens forward, who had surgery to reconstruct his anterior cruciate ligament, has been ruled out for between six and nine months.
He suffered the injury in Sarries' defeat to London Irish on Sunday.
Hill would have been a first-choice pick for England and his loss is a huge blow to acting coach Andy Robinson.
Robinson said: "Richard is an outstanding player for both his club and his country and our thoughts are with him. We all wish him a speedy recovery."
Robinson must now find a back-row alternative for the 31-year-old.
The obvious answer at openside flanker is Leicester's Lewis Moody, although he has only just started his comeback in Tigers' second team following 10 months out recovering from a serious foot problem.
Robinson might be tempted to go for Worcester's Pat Sanderson, who is one of the Premiership's form players. The entire back-row combination will give Robinson plenty of food for thought, given Hill's absence and the retirements from international rugby of Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back.
MMIX
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I hate to say it, but I think this must be the end of Richard Hill's international career. England will have to start building for the future right away
