England and Bath winger Anthony Watson’s season has been ended by an Achilles injury.

The 24-year-old was hurt during the first half of England’s NatWest 6 Nations defeat to Ireland on Saturday.

“Anthony has been in superb form this year, and we’re obviously really disappointed to have lost him at a critical part of the season,” director of rugby Todd Blackadder told bathrugby.com.

Watson, who has scored 15 tries in 33 Tests for England, was driven off the pitch on a buggy in the 34th minute at Twickenham.

England head coach Eddie Jones said post-match that Watson had suffered an Achilles injury which was “not good” and the player’s club have confirmed the severity of the problem.

Watson, who underwent rehabilitation work on another Achilles injury last year, had only just displaced Mike Brown for the number 15 shirt and the injury is a blow to England, who travel to South Africa in the summer.

It will also deny Bath a key man for their Aviva Premiership run-in.