Neck surgery rules Tom Johnson out of England’s autumn intwernationals

Stuart Lancaster has been dealt a further injury blow after Exeter Chiefs
confirmed that Tom Johnson, their back-row forward, will miss next month’s
QBE autumn internationals.



Johnson, who has won eight caps and toured New Zealand with England this year,
is scheduled to undergo neck surgery on Tuesday.



The 32-year-old joins a lengthy injury list that also includes Alex Corbisiero
(shoulder), Mako Vunipola (knee), Dan Cole (neck), Tom Youngs (shoulder) and
Geoff Parling (concussion), before Lancaster, the England coach, names his
latest elite player squad in three weeks’ time.

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