Kepu Tuipulotu a doubt for England after knee injury in training

England hooker Kepu Tuipulotu is in doubt for the Nations Championship after injuring his knee in training on Tuesday, BBC Sport reports. The 21-year-old is yet to win a cap, and he will not be included in the squad for England's opener against Australia on 8 November.

A hooker is the forward who strikes for the ball in the scrum and throws it in at the lineout, the line-up of players that restarts play after the ball goes into touch. It is a specialist job, and it is not one that can be filled easily at short notice.

The BBC says the timeframe for Tuipulotu's return is unclear. He joined Bath's academy in 2024 and has a contract with the club until 2028.

His story has an international twist. He was born in Wales and qualifies to play for them. Former Wales coach Warren Gatland invited him to train with the senior squad, but he chose to focus on England.

England's injury list is not limited to him. Fin Smith, the fly-half who usually kicks and steers the attack, is a major doubt for the Australia game. Archie McParland was left out of Northampton's squad to face Gloucester at the weekend because of an injury concern.

There was some good news for the other side of the fence. Seb Atkinson has been named at inside centre for Gloucester as he tries to prove his fitness. Joe Marchant and Will Joseph, meanwhile, were recalled to England's squad ahead of the Nations Championship, a move made amid injury worries.

The schedule is tight. England play Australia on 8 November, then face Japan and New Zealand later that month. The Nations Championship finals weekend follows at the end of November.

For a young hooker who has only just started to make his name, the next few weeks will show how quickly he can get back on the training pitch. For England, the question is who steps in while they wait.