England's front-row depth has been severely depleted with the news that Sale prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour has been ruled out of the upcoming Six Nations tournament due to a shoulder injury. The 21-year-old, who has won six caps for his country, suffered the injury during training last week and is set to undergo surgery, which will keep him sidelined for several months.
The loss of Opoku-Fordjour is a significant blow to England's Six Nations aspirations, with their campaign set to kick off against Wales on February 7. The young prop had been expected to play a key role in the tournament, having featured against Australia and Argentina in the autumn. His absence, combined with the serious Achilles injury that has already ruled out British and Irish Lion Will Stuart, leaves England's options at tighthead prop severely limited.
According to Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson, Opoku-Fordjour's injury is a real shocker for both the player and the team. "He will have surgery tomorrow in Cardiff, which essentially will put him out for the next couple of months," Sanderson said. "It is a real shocker for him, for us, and for England." The injury is a significant setback for Opoku-Fordjour, who had been making a name for himself as a talented young prop with a big future ahead of him.
It takes a special kind of person to take on the psychological load of playing international rugby at tighthead at 19 or 20 years old anyway. He already has that ability to handle, to reframe, to carry. Some people could go down rabbit holes, but he doesn't. He just gets on with it. He is probably already looking ahead to how strong and fit and physical he is going to be when he comes back. That is the kind of character he is.
With Opoku-Fordjour and Stuart out of the picture, the pressure is now on other players to step up and fill the void. Gloucester's Afolabi Fasogbon, who won the Under-20 Rugby World Cup alongside Opoku-Fordjour in 2024, and Northampton's 33-year-old Trevor Davison are among the contenders to take on the role. However, the importance of Leicester's Joe Heyes, who has enjoyed a superb six months at tighthead for his country, is now higher than ever.
The young prop has been making waves in the rugby world with his impressive performances, and his experience will be crucial in the upcoming Six Nations tournament. Heyes' ability to handle the pressure of international rugby at a young age is a testament to his character and skill, and he will be looking to build on his recent success in the tournament.
Despite the disappointment of losing Opoku-Fordjour to injury, Sale's recruitment plans for next season are on track, according to director of rugby Alex Sanderson. The club has suffered a number of setbacks, including the loss of scrum-half Raffi Quirke to Newcastle and missing out on high-profile targets such as Harlequins' back row Chandler Cunningham-South and Leicester lock George Martin.
However, Sanderson is confident that the club will have a strong squad for the 2025-26 season. "I would love to tell you about it, it is eating me away inside," he said. "Simon would not say that and leave himself open for if it didn't happen. For the curious, watch this space. For the concerned, don't worry, we are on top of it. It is a great squad, and it is going to be even better." Co-owner Simon Orange has also expressed his confidence in the club's recruitment plans, urging fans to have some faith in the team's ability to build a strong squad.
As the Six Nations tournament approaches, England will be looking to overcome the loss of Opoku-Fordjour and build on their recent success. With a number of talented young players coming through the ranks, the future of English rugby looks bright, and fans will be eager to see how the team performs in the upcoming tournament.
Original: BBC Sport
Image: BBC Sport
Written by Npsports
