England and Saracens wing Jess Breach is out of action until February after sustaining a hip injury.
The 27-year-old, who won her 43rd cap as England clinched the WXV title with victory over Canada in October, has beeen a mainstay of coach John Mitchell’s back three.
“It is not brilliant,” Breach told TNT Sports in October., external
“I spoke to a consultant and a specialist and I am probably not going to be playing for a little while, maybe aim for the Six Nations.”
England’s Six Nations begins against Italy in York on 23 March, with the Red Roses’ home World Cup getting under way in August.
Mitchell is already without Loughborough Lightning wing Bo Westcombe-Evans, who made her England debut in September and has been ruled out of the rest of the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) season with a significant knee injury.
Saracens, who were eliminated in the semi-finals last season, are currently fifth in the PWR table, with four wins from six matches.