England centre Henry Slade faces a long spell on the sidelines after injuring both his ankles playing for club side Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership last weekend.

The 26-year-old limped off the pitch in the opening half of Exeter’s 31-22 victory over Leicester Tigers on Saturday and the injury to his right ankle is more serious than the initial one to his left.

“Sladey’s going to be out for a little while. He’s picked up injuries to both of his ankles. He tried hobbling along with one, until he picked up the second,” Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said in a statement here

“The second injury is more of a concern as it’s an injury in around an old injury, which he had had previously plated. Right now, he’s continually being assessed and we’ll know more in due course.

“It is, however, nothing something he’ll be able to get over in a week or two, it’s more significant than that.”

The British media reported Slade faces a race to be fit for selection ahead of the Six Nations next year. England begin their campaign against France in Paris on Feb. 2.

Meanwhile, Scarlets coach Brad Mooar has agreed a deal to join new All Blacks head coach Ian Foster’s backroom team in June 2020, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) confirmed on Tuesday.

The 45-year-old will return to New Zealand and take charge as the All Blacks’ attack coach following the conclusion of the Welsh side’s European competitions, NZR said in a statement here

Mooar completes Foster’s coaching team that also includes John Plumtree (forwards coach), Greg Feek (scrum coach) and Scott McLeod (defence coach).

Elsewhere, Former All Blacks back Sonny Bill Williams has followed the lead of Arsenal soccer player Mesut Ozil and issued a message of support for China’s ethnic minority Uighur Muslim community.

The 34-year-old Williams, who left New Zealand rugby after the World Cup in Japan and to join Canadian-based British Super League club Toronto Wolfpack last month, converted to Islam in 2009.

He has used social media in the past to speak out on several social issues, including racism and equality, and suggested on Monday that greater pressure should be placed by countries on China for its treatment of the Uighurs.

“Its a sad time when we choose economic benefits over humanity #Uyghurs,” Williams wrote on Twitter, using an alternative spelling. The post had received more than 9,000 likes and almost 6,000 retweets by Monday evening.

Reuters