News

Watson ruled out of Paris opener but Cowan-Dickie available

EnglandÕs Anthony Watson 10/3/2018
Anthony Watson has been ruled out of England’s Guinness Six Nations opener against France in Paris on Sunday but Luke Cowan-Dickie will be available for selection.

Anthony Watson has been ruled out of England’s Guinness Six Nations opener against France in Paris on Sunday but Luke Cowan-Dickie will be available for selection.

Red Rose head coach Jones will have to make do without Bath Rugby winger Watson, who has not recovered from a calf injury sustained before coming into the England camp.

Watson will still travel with the rest of 25-man squad but his absence gives either Ollie Thorley or George Furbank an opportunity to make their Test debut in the back three.

Prop Will Stuart could also make his debut after being retained in the squad, which has been confirmed by Jones for the trip to France ahead of finalising his matchday 23.

Cowan-Dickie, who returned to England for family reasons on Tuesday evening, will re-join the squad in Paris on Friday with Jack Singleton standing down from his earlier call up.

In addition to Watson, Joe Launchbury and apprentice Alex Mitchell have travelled with the squad.

England men’s squad (25)

Forwards Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 21 caps) Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 19 caps) Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 12 caps) Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 14 caps) Jamie George (Saracens, 45 caps) Maro Itoje (Saracens, 34 caps) George Kruis (Saracens, 41 caps) Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 81 caps) Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 6 caps) Joe Marler (Harlequins, 68 caps) Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 31 caps) Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, uncapped) Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 15 caps) Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 58 caps)

Backs Elliot Daly (Saracens, 39 caps) Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap) Owen Farrell (Saracens, 79 caps) George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 65 caps) George Furbank (Northampton Saints, uncapped) Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 9 caps) Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 47 caps) Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps) Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped) Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 40 caps) Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 95 caps)