Rees injury blow opens England door for Armitage

WASPS flanker Tom Rees will miss the start of England’s RBS 6 Nations campaign after it was confirmed he had suffered ligament damage in his left knee.

Rees, 24, is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of two months with a moderate tear to his medial ligament — ruling him out of England’s games against Italy on February 7, Wales a week later and Ireland on February 28.

He will also miss Wasps’ vital Heineken Cup pool fixtures against Leinster at Twickenham on January 17 and Castres the following Sunday.