LONDON (AFP) – England vice-captain Jamie George has been ruled out of the team’s Six Nations opener against defending champions Ireland on February 1, the Rugby Football Union announced yesterday.
Hooker George, 34, who was last week replaced by Maro Itoje as captain, suffered a hamstring injury in Saracens’ Champions Cup defeat by Castres on Sunday.
Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell sustained a knee problem against Munster but could yet feature against Ireland after being taken to the squad’s pre-championship training camp in Spain to continue his rehabilitation.
Northampton lock Alex Coles, Leicester scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet and Harlequins number eight Alex Dombrandt have also been ruled out of England’s Six Nations opener in Dublin.
Curtis Langdon (Northampton), Arthur Clark (Gloucester), Ben Spencer (Bath), Henry Pollock (Northampton), and Raffi Quirke (Sale) have been called into the squad by England coach Steve Borthwick.
