Alex Sanderson has warned that Tom Curry\u2019s physical playing style will shorten his career and has suggested England should give him the summer off with the World Cup next year in mind.<\/p>\n
The back-rower sustained a calf injury in the warmup for England\u2019s Six Nations defeat by Italy<\/a> in Rome. Sanderson, the Sale director of rugby, said on Tuesday that Curry has a grade-three calf tear and \u201che\u2019ll be back this season\u201d \u2013 but when remains unclear. \u201cWith Tom being superhuman the usual layoff times tend to be diminished because of his character and physique,\u201d Sanderson said.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old Curry had surgery on a persistent wrist injury after the British & Irish Lions tour last summer, sidelining him until November, and also has a chronic hip condition. He was out for eight months from late in 2023 after hip surgery and has endured a litany of other injuries<\/a> in recent seasons.<\/p>\n Sanderson believes taking time off for injury rehabilitation may help Curry extend his career, but also admits the flanker\u2019s all-action on-field approach will realistically shorten it, too.<\/p>\n \u201cThe physicality he plays at is definitely going to shorten his playing career from 35 to 32, something like that,\u201d Sanderson said. \u201cBut the less games he plays the longer his career. He\u2019s not going to play over the next few weeks and we\u2019ll see how it goes.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a question around a summer tour. Does he need that? Does he need it to be in the best place for the World Cup? Is it better that he just has a few months off over the summer? That\u2019s for us to discuss with England.\u201d<\/p>\n