 Leicester flanker Moody has made 53 appearances for England |
England's Six Nations preparations have been dealt yet another blow after flanker Lewis Moody was ruled out for up to three months with a broken ankle. The 30-year-old sustained the injury training with his club Leicester on Thursday and had surgery on Friday. The lay-off rules him out of the entire Six Nations campaign, which begins on 7 February when England play Italy. He joins fellow flanker Tom Rees on the sidelines, while Matt Stevens is unavailable after failing a drugs test. It is a big blow for Moody, who was hoping to re-establish himself in the England side after missing the autumn internationals following an ankle operation. He said: "There is never a good time to get injured, but it's even more frustrating when you are playing well.  | 606: DEBATE |
"I have felt good since I got back into the Leicester team and I was gutted when a break was confirmed." England team manager Martin Johnson said: "I know how hard Lewis worked to recover from his previous injury so my thoughts are with him and I wish him a speedy return to fitness." Moody's injury could open the way for specialist open-side flanker Steffon Armitage to step up from the Saxons squad. Bath skipper Michael Lipman could also be in the frame for a return to the senior England squad. There was more bad news for Leicester, with centre Dan Hipkiss ruled out for up to six weeks after knee surgery. The 26-year-old picked up the injury in the same incident in which he tore a hamstring against Bath at Welford Road on 4 January. "Injuries are occupational hazards of the game," said the centre, who has been forced to withdraw from the England Saxons squad. "I need a cartilage repaired and will probably be out for four to six weeks. "It's not ideal but it's nothing serious. I am trying not to worry about it."
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