Sam Simmonds doubtful for summer Australia tour

Sam Simmonds could be a doubt for England’s summer tour to Australia as Exeter Chiefs await further assessments on the hip injury that ruled the No 8 out of the defeat to Munster last weekend.

The 27-year-old, who featured in all five of England’s Six Nations matches, will miss the Premiership game away to Saracens on Sunday. Rob Baxter, the Exeter director of rugby, is waiting to discover whether he will be able to call on the No 8 again this season. England are due to play three Tests this summer, the first of which is in Perth on July 2.

“A lot more is going to be known this week,” Baxter said. “It doesn’t need to be season over, we need to assess everything