It was typical of the misfortune that has plagued Jack van Poortvliet in recent seasons that the day after being named in England’s Six Nations squad, the scrum-half faced having another scan.

He had limped off 10 minutes before the end of Leicester Tigers’ comprehensive victory over Harlequins at The Stoop and was left hoping that his pre-tournament curse had not struck again.
He missed the 2023 World Cup after suffering an ankle injury in a warm-up match against Wales at Twickenham, a hamstring strain ruled him out of the 2024 Six Nations, and he damaged a shoulder before last autumn’s Te...