England’s Six Nation’s squad are facing a huge shake up after five players ruled out ahead of opener against Ireland.
Head coach Steve Borthwick has called up five replacements, who’ll join the squad at their training ground in Girona, Spain.
Amongst those injured is former captain Jamie George, who sustained a hamstring injury in the Saracen’s Champions Cup this weekend.
George was recently replaced as captain by Maro Itoje, but still played a vital role within the team’s strategy.
The other players forced to withdraw from the squad include two scrum-halves, Alex Mitchell and Jack van Poortvliet.
Also injured is Alex Coles and Alex Dombrandt.
However, Alex Mitchell, who suffered a knee injury, will still travel with the squad to Girona and continue his rehabilitation, in hopes he’ll be ready for the first game.
The five new players Borthwick called up, are Curtis Langdon, Arthur Clark, Ben Spencer, Henry Pollock and Raffi Quirke, all of whom are headed to Spain to begin preparations.
England will face title defenders, Ireland, in Dublin as the Six Nations kickstarts on February 1st.
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