England's Six Nations Opener Threatened by Feyi-Waboso Injury Scare
England have been handed a significant injury concern on the eve of their Six Nations Championship opener against Wales, with star wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso reporting a leg problem. The 23-year-old Exeter Chiefs player was absent from the final part of England's training session at Pennyhill Park on Thursday, prompting immediate investigations into the severity of the issue.
Last-Minute Fitness Doubts Cast Shadow Over Selection
Feyi-Waboso, who was named to start on the right wing against Wales earlier this week, now faces a race against time to prove his fitness for Saturday's crucial encounter. England head coach Steve Borthwick is understood to be unlikely to risk one of his most important attacking weapons if any doubts persist about his physical readiness for the match.
The in-form wing's potential absence would force Borthwick into an unwanted back-line reshuffle, with Tommy Freeman potentially moving from centre to the wing or Elliot Daly slotting in as a direct replacement alongside Henry Arundell in the wide positions.
Recent History of Injury Concerns
This latest setback comes after Feyi-Waboso missed both last season's Six Nations tournament and the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia due to a serious shoulder injury. His return to peak form this season has been particularly impressive, with standout performances in the PREM Rugby competition for his club side.
The young wing has become an integral part of England's recent success, starting all four of their November Tests and scoring tries against both Fiji and Argentina during the national side's ongoing 11-game winning streak.
Coaching Staff Express Cautious Concern
England senior assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth confirmed the concern surrounding Feyi-Waboso's condition, stating: 'The only slight concern we have is Manny. He just pulled up at the end of training, so he'd be the only little concern. Other than that, we are fit and healthy and ready to go. His leg's sore. We're just waiting to investigate that a little bit more.'
Captaincy Changes Amid Preparations
Meanwhile, England have confirmed that Jamie George will captain the side against Wales, with regular skipper Maro Itoje named on the bench. Itoje arrived late at England's pre-Championship training camp in Girona after attending the funeral of his late mother Florence in Nigeria.
Hooker George expressed his enthusiasm for the temporary leadership role, saying: 'It's a privilege. I love this job. Being able to do this is the best thing in the world. It's an incredible opportunity to be doing it again. It's probably for one week only, so I'm making the most of it.'
The England squad arrived at their team hotel in Richmond on Thursday night ahead of the Wales encounter, having lost only once throughout 2025. The potential absence of Feyi-Waboso represents the most significant disruption to their preparations as they seek to maintain their impressive recent form in the tournament opener.
