Injured Dombrandt set for long spell on sidelines

Alex Dombrandt has won 23 caps for England since making his debut in July 2021 [Getty Images] England number eight Alex Dombrandt faces a "prolonged period" on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury in the international against a France XV on Friday. The Harlequins captain, 29, sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the non-Test summer warm-up, which England lost 35-19 . A club statement read : "Alex will be assessed by a specialist in the coming days, before undergoing surgery and then beginning rehabilitation with the club's medical team. "He is expected to be sidelined for a prolonged period of the 2026-27 season." Dombrandt had been named in England's training squad for the upcoming Nations Championship, but was left out of the final 36-man squad having sustained the injury. He scored 10 tries in 21 appearances last season for Harlequins, in what was a difficult campaign for the London club as they finished ninth in the Prem table. Harlequins will be without their skipper for much of next season as they attempt to rebuild.