RFU statement: Borthwick's England lose two more players to injury

England have now lost a total of four players from their original 36-strong Guinness Six Nations squad, Elliot Daly and Jamie George withdrawing on Tuesday from this week’s five-day training camp just 24 hours after it was confirmed that Courtney Lawes and George McGuigan would miss out.

Dave Ribbans and Tom Dunn were the pair called up following Monday’s injury bulletin, and Ollie Lawrence and Jamie Blamire have now become the latest beneficiaries and were poised to train with England today at Twickenham.

An RFU statement read: “Elliot Daly (hamstring) and Jamie George (concussion) have been withdrawn from the England squad through injury. Jamie Blamire and Ollie Lawrence have been called up to the squad and will take part in training at Twickenham Stadium on Tuesday.

“Steve Borthwick’s side are taking part in a five-day training camp ahead of next week’s championship opener against Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday, February 4.”

It was Monday, the same day that Borthwick and captain Owen Farrell attended the Six Nations media launch in central London, that the first squad casualties were confirmed at the start of the new head coach’s first campaign in charge.

That RFU statement read: “Courtney Lawes (calf) and George McGuigan (knee) have withdrawn through injury from the England squad who meet today [Monday] for a Guinness Six Nations training camp. Tom Dunn and David Ribbans have been called up to the squad by head coach Steve Borthwick. The squad will join up this afternoon at the Honda England Rugby Performance Centre at Pennyhill Park for a five-day camp.”

It was January 16 when Borthwick named his squad of 36 for the championship. McGuigan was one of five uncapped payers included in that selection, while Lawes and Daly were back in the mix following an extended period out under previous boss Eddie Jones.