England have suffered a pre-World Cup scare with an injury to Wasps back-row forward Brad Shields.
Shields is to return home from England’s training camp in Italy after suffering a foot injury.
Harlequins’ uncapped back-row prospect Alex Dombrandt will join the squad as Shields’ replacement.
? SQUAD UPDATE | Quins forward Alex Dombrandt will fly out to Italy to join the England squad later. He will replace Brad Shields (Wasps) who returns home after picking up a foot ligament injury.
Shields will undergo assessment in England to understand the extent of the injury pic.twitter.com/IrZuxF8kjs
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 25, 2019
The Rugby Football Union said: “The back-rower will replace Brad Shields (Wasps), who returns home this morning after picking up a foot ligament injury.
“Shields will undergo further assessment in England to understand the extent of the injury.”
? The Dominator’s off to Italy!
? Our man @Alex_dombrandt has been called up to the @EnglandRugby training camp in Treviso! #COYQ pic.twitter.com/dV9T0cMSMI
— Harlequins ? (@Harlequins) July 25, 2019
England head coach Eddie Jones now faces an anxious wait to discover the extent of 28-year-old Shields’ problem.
The New Zealand-born player has won eight caps and featured in three of England’s games during last season’s Six Nations.
That 31-man group is due to be announced on August 12, a day after England’s opening World Cup warm-up game against Six Nations champions Wales at Twickenham.
Dombrandt, 22, has previously trained with England this summer and is rated as an outstanding prospect.
