Six Nations 2018: Kyle Sinckler and Henry Slade ruled out with Mike Brown and Chris Robshaw England doubts

England have 18 players currently unavailable while Wales after also counting the cost of injuries picked up over the final two rounds of European rugby

Eddie Jones revealed the latest England injury news with Chris Robsaw and Mike Brown both doubts to face Italy (Getty)

Henry Slade and Kyle Sinckler have joined England’s growing list of unavailable players for the start of the Six Nations through injury, with Eddie Jones now unable to call on at least 15 names for next weekend’s curtain-raiser against Italy, while Wales are also counting the cost of the final European pool weekend.

Exeter Chiefs centre Slade has started four of England’s last five internationals, but faces up to four weeks on the sidelines with a shoulder injury suffered in the 28-21 defeat by Glasgow Warriors last weekend that prevented him from flying out to Portugal with the rest of the national team for this week’s training camp.

Harlequins prop Sinckler did travel to Vilamoura on Monday, but arrived with a hamstring injury that Jones revealed could keep him out of the entire Six Nations campaign, dealing the head coach yet another blow to his plans to win the championship for the third consecutive time.

“Kyle Sinckler was being examined again this morning, but the likelihood is that he has a hamstring injury of significance and will probably be out for six to seven weeks,” Jones said at the Six Nations launch in London on Wednesday. “The checking of Henry Slade's injury is still ongoing, but he'll be out for three to four weeks.”

The pair join the 13 names that were listed among the ‘unavailable’ category when Jones named his Six Nations squad last week, with all but two – prop Joe Marler and flanker James Haskell – absent through injury. But there was further news of concern for the England coach as he confirmed that neither Chris Robshaw nor Mike Brown had started training yet, with the Harlequins pair now in a race against time to prove their fitness for next Sunday’s trip to Rome.

Harlequins director of rugby John Kingston insisted that Robshaw should be fit to feature for England, but Jones confirmed that the former England captain is currently going through an aerobic aquatics programme in Portugal as he continues his recovery from a back injury, with Brown currently suffering from blurred vision after a concussion.

“Chris Robshaw would win any sort of water Olympics at the moment,” Jones joked. “He's unbelievable in the pool. He did a water aerobics class with a bunch of Portuguese women yesterday. Apparently he was the best in class. If we play Italy in the pool he'd be all right, but if we're playing rugby then he'd be borderline to get there.

“Mike Brown is starting to do some light skills today and we'd be hopeful that by the middle of next week he'd be alright to train. He's also borderline for Italy.”

Added to that is the absence of Exeter wing Jack Nowell, who had hoped to make his return from his latest injury setback before departing for Portugal this week. Instead, the 24-year-old will miss next weekend’s encounter, but could return in time for the clash with Wales with Jones currently planning to try him out as an outside centre, having already seen what he can offer in the back three.

“He's back running but he probably won't be ready until the Wales game,” Jones said. “It's a gut feeling with him at 13. I know he can play in the back three, so it's not a debate that he can't play in the back three but this is an opportunity for him to add value to the team at 13. He can be a Conrad Smith-type player – a strong runner, good in defence, high work rate, energetic, good communicator.”

Taking all of England’s injury concerns into account, Jones has 18 players on his hands that are either ruled out or doubtful for the Six Nations opening weekend, but they are far from the only side with major selection concerns to deal with.

Eddie Jones poses with the Six Nations trophy alongside England captain Dylan Hartley (Getty)

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has seen both of his experienced options at fly-half ruled out with mid-term injuries, while Saracens full-back Liam Williams could end up missing the entire championship if he needs surgery on the abdominal injury that has been affecting him this season. Dan Biggar, the Ospreys fly-half, was this week ruled out for up to four weeks with a shoulder injury, meaning he will miss the opening encounter with Scotland as well as the week-two trip to Twickenham to face England and trip to Ireland. His logical replacement, Rhys Priestland, is already a doubt for the entire campaign after suffering a hamstring injury last week, and he could be joined in missing the Six Nations by Williams, who has already missed two months this season and only returned to action two weeks ago.

“He is being rehabbed extensively over the next couple of weeks. Hopefully they can get him right but if he’s not right unfortunately he might require surgery,” Gatland said of Williams.

“It’s probably an injury that six weeks ago he should have had an operation on it, but Saracens had rehabbed him and he’s come away from the game against the Ospreys feeling very sore. Our medical team had a look and want to rehab him extensively over next couple of weeks.”