Alex Mitchell will miss the remainder of the season with Northampton and is a doubt to start England's Nations Championship campaign after suffering a serious hamstring injury.
Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson described it as 'frustrating' to lose Mitchell, who is the first-choice scrum-half for both club and country, while he was at an international 'alignment camp' last week.
As current leaders of PREM Rugby and with a play-off berth already secured, Northampton are well placed to defend the league title they won in 2024. However, their chances are dealt a blow by the absence of the 29-year-old Mitchell.
This is Mitchell's second hamstring problem this year, having suffered a similar injury on a different leg during England's Six Nations defeat by Ireland.
'He's pulled it and he's done a decent job on it,' Dowson said of Mitchell. 'It's going to be a push to get him any rugby for us for the rest of the season. It is frustrating. It's disappointing. No doubt. He's been very, very good but we focus now on what we do have and what they're going to bring to the table.'
Archie McParland, who has been in fine form for Northampton this season and was called up by England last week, will now take over as Dowson's first-choice number nine.
England's Nations Championship opener is against double world champions South Africa on July 4. National coach Steve Borthwick has not ruled Mitchell out of that game yet, but if he is not fit, Bath captain Ben Spencer is likely to be in pole position to start.
