Bevan Rodd faces 12 weeks out with scaphoid injury, ruling him out of England's autumn internationals

Bevan Rodd will miss England’s entire autumn international programme after Sale Sharks confirmed the loosehead prop requires eight to 12 weeks on the sidelines following surgery on a scaphoid fracture sustained during last weekend’s Premiership opener against Bristol Bears.

The 24-year-old, who made five appearances off the bench for England in last season’s Six Nations, has now had four operations in two years. He missed the Nations Championship in the summer after dislocating his shoulder in Sale’s 26-17 European Champions Cup win over Harlequins in April, and this latest setback rules him out of November’s Tests against Australia, Japan and New Zealand, as well as the finals weekend.

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson confirmed the news at his weekly media briefing, though he expressed confidence that Rodd would recover at the lower end of the timeframe. “He’s having an operation on the scaphoid, so is out for eight to 12 weeks. He played for 20 minutes with that — that’s why I was thinking this is all right. It’s just a tough lad and scrummed really well,” Sanderson said.

“It’s really unfortunate. It’s just another bit of a blow for Bev, but eight to 12 taking him through the Nations Championship, and it’s good to go for three quarters of the season. So it’s not devastating, but it is a bit crushing for him at this point.”

Sanderson explained the nature of the injury, noting that the scaphoid’s role in controlling blood supply typically necessitates surgery and a longer recovery than a straightforward fracture. “If it’s a finger or a broken bone, it’s four weeks, but the scaphoid, from my understanding, controls the blood supply, so generally they have to operate, and it needs to heal.”

There was better news elsewhere in the Sale camp. A scan on Rekeiti Ma’asi-White revealed no ligament damage to his knee, and the centre is expected to return within two to three weeks. Winger Tom Roebuck could also be available for Sale’s trip to Saracens.

Flanker Ben Curry, sidelined since damaging his hamstring in the Champions Cup win over Clermont Auvergne last December, has returned to full training and may also feature in north London. “He is ready,” said Sanderson. “When I had to run out last week to stop him chasing after Aaron Reed on a kick chase, he just lost his head.”