The Rugby Football Union investigating Luke Cowan-Dickie’s injury in an effort to ensure hooker is fit for Rugby World Cup.
The hooker, who is 29 years old, had previously undergone surgery to address an issue with his ankle. However, he was scheduled to have an assessment for his neck on Thursday to determine his return date.
According to Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter, the Rugby Football Union is investigating whether Cowan-Dickie’s recovery from the neck injury can be expedited with the Rugby World Cup in mind later this year.
Baxter said: “Everything is being poured into it and I feel a bit sorry for the guy because he’s a bit like a live experiment for everybody really. He’s desperate to get on with things as well.
“He is in a period of recovery and there’s nothing saying definitively here and now that he won’t be fit by the end of the season, but there’s also nothing saying definitively that he will be.”
Baxter added: “I don’t think anyone’s sitting here thinking the move (to Montpellie) is off,
“I think everyone is thinking Luke’s going to make a decent recovery and he’s going to be ready to go and he’s going to be a very good player.
“That’s the overriding feeling around the club and we haven’t had any indication that that’s going to change.”
Luke Cowan-Dickie facts:
- Cowan-Dickie has previously been dual-registered with both the Cornish Pirates and Plymouth Albion to aid his player development
- The hooker scored the opening try of the 2020 European Rugby Champions Cup Final as Exeter defeated Racing 92 to become European champions for the first time
- He plays primarily as a hooker but can also play prop
Fans have voted for the 15 greatest England players of all-time, Owen Farrell 6th
Owen Farrell becomes only the third male player to reach 100 caps for England against the All Blacks.
The son of rugby league great and former England centre Andy, Owen has been England captain since 2019 where his leads with his game management and goal-kicking as an option at either fly half or centre.
A product of St George’s School in Harpenden, Owen studied Business at Hertfordshire University. He began playing rugby league aged eight for Wigan St Patricks, like his father. It took Owen little time to impress becoming the then-youngest player to appear in English professional rugby union aged 17 years and 11 days when turning out for Saracens in October 2008.
He had made a powerful impression for England U16, a side he captained, and for the U17 and U18 and U20 teams. Farrell made his full senior debut against Scotland in Murrayfield on 4 February 2012.
His maiden try came against Australia on 2 November 2013. Farrell deputised for captain Dylan Hartley in 2017 and 2018 before being confirmed as captain for the Guinness Six Nations in 2019 and led England to the Rugby World Cup final in Japan later that year.
So, where does that place him among the greatest players to ever represent England?
Fans over on Ranker have been voting on the greatest players in England Rugby. View how the top 20 looks below…
#15. Phil Vickery (73 caps, 1998-2010)
#14. Bill Beaumont (34 caps, 1975-1982)
#13. Will Greenwood (55 caps, 1997-2004)
#12. David Duckham (39 caps, 1969-76)
#11. Maro Itoje (56 caps, 2016-Present)
