Chiefs suffer Hanks injury blow

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has admitted lock James Hanks could miss the Aviva Premiership opener at Northampton Saints after breaking his collarbone in training.

The 29-year-old, who has amassed 183 appearances for the Devon club, sustained the injury during a tackle drill at the club's Sandy Park base.

Hanks is set to undergo further tests to discover the full extent of the injury, but Baxter conceded it is not looking good for the September 7 clash at Franklin's Gardens.

"James Hanks has broken his collarbone and he is now probably unlikely to be fit for the start of the season," said Baxter. "It is just one of those things that happens. We don't really know the full extent of the recovery time but we should know by the end of this week when he has had further exploratory matters taken on him.

"It is disappointing after the season he had last season but hopefully he can get this one out of the way and have a bit of rest time as well."

The injury to Hanks could mean an immediate opportunity for new signing Don Armand, who completed his move from South African Super 15 outfit the Stormers on Tuesday.