Jonathan Joseph (Gallo)
London - England centre Jonathan Joseph
will be out of action for three months with a chest injury sustained during the
Rugby World Cup, his Bath side said on Friday.
The 24-year-old underwent surgery this week
to repair damage to his pectoral muscle and he is now a doubt for the start of
the Six Nations tournament in February, Bath said.
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Joseph was injured in England's opening
World Cup win against Fiji, missed the defeat by Wales but returned in the
33-13 loss to Australia that consigned England to their humiliation of failing
to reach the quarter-finals.
England coach Stuart Lancaster retained
Joseph in the matchday 23 for the rout of minnows Uruguay, but he sat out
Bath's win over Exeter last weekend and will now miss the start of the English
Premiership club's European Cup campaign.
"Bath can confirm that centre Jonathan
Joseph underwent surgery earlier this week for a pectoral injury sustained
during the World Cup," said a statement from the west country club.
"Joseph, who made his 16th
international appearance for England during the competition, will be out of
action for approximately three months.
England open their Six Nations against
Scotland at Murrayfield on February 6.
