"Dupont setback" - 5 Players Who Won't Be Playing In The Autumn Internationals

We took a look at five prominent players set to miss the autumn Tests.

England lock George Martin will miss the autumn Test series after being ruled out until at least January due to shoulder surgery.

The 24-year-old Leicester Tigers second row has not played since being forced off during the Six Nations victory against France in February, with a combination of knee and shoulder injuries preventing his return.

Surgery over the summer addressed his shoulder, but he will miss the first half of the Premiership season, with Leicester’s 10th league fixture on 24 January marking the earliest potential return. While nerve injuries make timelines uncertain, the club and England management are prioritising Martin’s long-term performance and recovery.

With 21 England caps, he established himself as a key starter last year, and Steve Borthwick praised his professionalism and commitment in rehab.

Ben Curry will miss England’s Autumn Nations Series following hamstring surgery that required a six-week recovery. The Sale flanker had been struggling with a recurring hamstring problem that threatened his ability to compete at the international level, limiting his preparation and training.

The decision to operate was made in consultation with Sale DoR Alex Sanderson and England head coach Steve Borthwick, ensuring Curry could return to top-level performance. The surgery involved moving muscle and removing a previous suture, allowing him to train fully without risking further setbacks.

Curry’s absence affects both England’s autumn campaign and Sale’s early-season plans, though the operation means he can participate in the Champions Cup and will be ready for the Six Nations, fully recovered and able to perform at his usual standard.

Jean-Luc du Preez, the new Bordeaux-Begles signing, injured his knee in training ahead of South Africa’s Test with New Zealand at Eden Park, a match he was set to start.

The 30-year-old former Sale forward faces several weeks out. Yannick Bru described the injury as “the curse of Bordeaux-Begles” at the start of the season, adding du Preez to a long list of injured players, including Maxime Lucu and Yoram Moefana.

His absence is a significant setback for both club and country. Since the injury, he has had surgery on the knee, which confirmed that he wouldn't be playing for the Boks this autumn.

France captain Antoine Dupont is continuing his rehabilitation after rupturing a cruciate ligament against Ireland in Dublin on 8 March.

The 28-year-old Toulouse scrum-half has spent months recovering, including time at the Aspetar clinic in Doha, and has recently returned to light rugby work, such as foot-tennis warm-ups and solo training. While a small chance exists for him to play this autumn, it is unlikely, and he will not feature in any Tests, though he will join the November camp at Marcoussis to provide leadership and support.

Fabien Galthié confirmed he will train with restraint, preparing for a gradual return. Toulouse coach Ugo Mola indicated Dupont could return by late November, potentially playing for the club before the year ends, setting up a milestone 60th France cap next February against Ireland.

However, any hopes of playing this Autumn have definitely been shelved.

Ireland full-back Hugo Keenan will miss the November international schedule following hip surgery, which was necessary after traveling with a pre-existing issue during the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

The 29-year-old Leinster player scored the winning try in the second Lions Test, helping them secure the series, but the hip injury now sidelines him for the start of the United Rugby Championship season as well as Ireland’s Tests against New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and South Africa.

His absence compounds Leinster’s early-season injury concerns, which include lock Joe McCarthy, also doubtful due to a foot problem from the summer tour, while number eight Caelan Doris, who missed the Lions series with a shoulder injury, is expected to return before Christmas. Keenan’s recovery will be crucial for Ireland and Leinster in the coming months.