Baxter wants England talks after Feyi-Waboso injury

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has won eight caps for England

Exeter boss Rob Baxter says clubs must have talks with England to discuss how injured centrally-contracted players are dealt with.

Baxter has lost winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso for the rest of the season after the 22-year-old re-injured his shoulder while training with England.

Feyi-Waboso had been ready for surgery in early January after he dislocated his shoulder just before Christmas.

But England have the final say on medical issues with centrally contracted players under the new Professional Game Partnership agreement and delays with the RFUs involvement in the management of the injury led to surgery being postponed.

Feyi-Waboso had been reacting well to non-surgical treatment until he was hurt last week.

"Everyones agreed that the whole scenario around how things have worked needs to be discussed post Six Nations on how things should happen and how they should work going forward," Baxter told BBC Sport.

"If someone gets injured before Christmas and hes only having an operation now, then somewhere in the process somethings gone wrong hasnt it?"

England head coach Steve Borthwick insisted "player welfare is our top priority" and there had been "regular communication" with Exeter about Feyi-Waboso.

"England Rugby has a world-class medical team that cares deeply about the players they look after," he added.

"We are lucky to have, without doubt, some of the hardest working and most compassionate individuals I have had the privilege of working with.

"England medics in fact maintained regular communication with Exeter regarding Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, immediately after his injury, through the Christmas period, and further into the new year.

"As you would expect, this is all documented. It would therefore be unfair to question their work ethic, or the level of care provided to the player.

"We would have loved to have had Manny with us during this campaign, and were eager to see him back on the field as soon possible."

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored in both of Englands summer Tests against New Zealand

Baxter said it was "50-50" whether or not the injury required surgery and added it was a difficult first test case for the new agreement.

As part of England getting control of the countrys best 25 players, the RFU agreed a deal to up their funding to the 10 Premiership clubs.

"He had two scans and an operation was decided upon initially 10 days post the injury, which would make him fit now," he added.

"I think thats the frustration - I think everyone can understand the various bits and pieces which led to some of the delays and that ended up being the rehab decision being the more sensible one.

"Ultimately now it doesnt look like the sensible one because the shoulder clearly needed an operation."

But Baxter said Feyi-Waboso still had a chance of being a "wildcard" to make the British and Irish Lions squad this summer.

The medical student burst onto the scene at the beginning of last season and opted to play for England rather than his native Wales.

He won his first cap in last years Six Nations and has gone on to play eight times, scoring five tries including in each of Englands two summer Tests in New Zealand.

"There often seems to be in a Lions year someone that comes in a little bit out of nowhere, theyve either been injured or not quite broken through," said Baxter, who saw Jack Nowell make the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand.

"Hes going to be there or thereabouts with a shot of getting in there at some stage, but all we can do is work hard with him now.

"Hell be very focused on giving himself the best opportunity - bigger picture and longer term hes probably having the right treatment now that will look after him for a longer period of time rather than potentially leaving him with a grumbling shoulder that can last two or three years."