England Six Nations squad 2023: Full line-up of players as Elliot Daly withdrawn after injury

In another blow to England’s Six Nations preparation, Saracens have confirmed that Elliot Daly will miss the entire championship, with the utility back set to be on the sidelines for 12 weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in his club’s loss to Edinburgh.

The news comes in a rotten week for Steve Borthwick, who has seen vice-captain Courtney Lawes, George McGuigan and now Daly all withdraw from his Six Nations squad. There is better news at hooker, however, as Jamie George returned to camp on Thursday to continue his graduate return-to-play protocols after suffering a concussion in Saracens’ defeat in the Scottish capital.

Lawes limped off with a calf injury within half an hour of Northampton Saints’ defeat by La Rochelle. It was just his third start of a campaign that has been disrupted by concussion and a gluteal muscle issue. David Ribbans, Lawes’ Northampton colleague and a surprise omission from the initial squad, was called up, with Ollie Lawrence and Jamie Blamire also linking up with England at Pennyhill Park as centre and hooker cover respectively.

Blamire, who has played six Tests, joins Tom Dunn and Jack Walker in a callow trio of hookers who share nine caps between them in the potential absence of George, McGuigan – who pulled out on Monday with a knee problem – and Luke Cowan-Dickie, who suffered an ankle injury earlier this month.

George faces a 12-day stand-down period as a minimum, but could return before the Calcutta Cup on Sat Feb 4 subject to him progressing with return-to-play concussion protocols.

Lawes skippered the team as recently as last summer in a 2-1 series win over Australia. Borthwick appointed him alongside Ellis Genge as one of two vice-captains under Owen Farrell and was effusive in his praise of Lawes. Kevin Sinfield, the England defence coach, was equally enthusiastic.

“The way that Courtney influences those around, not by what he says but what he does, is infectious,” Sinfield said a week ago. “If someone is playing 7 out of 10 and Courtney is next to them, you suddenly get an 8 or a 9. That is an unbelievable quality and he has that.”

Ribbans’ call-up is the first step of what will have to be a reshaping of the back five of England’s pack. As well as Ribbans, Borthwick has Maro Itoje, Jonny Hill, Ollie Chessum and Nick Isiekwe covering lock with Lewis Ludlam, Ben Curry, Ben Earl, Jack Willis, Alex Dombrandt and Sam Simmonds as his back-rowers.

Chessum, previously earmarked by Eddie Jones as a player capable of fulfilling a similar role to that of Lawes as a lineout-jumping blindside flanker, will come into the back row reckoning as well.

Regarding George’s potential return ahead of Scotland, Borthwick said: “Jamie will follow return-to-play protocols, which give you a daily plan with daily assessments. He was good after the game so now follows that protocol, it can be 12 days. You have to assess what are symptoms and non-symptoms. The protocol has been in place for a period of time, which we’ll follow.

“[Lawes and McGuigan] are undergoing scans today [Monday], seeing specialists as soon as possible after that and we’ll have a full understanding of the extent and their plans thereafter.”

Borthwick added that Mako Vunipola would also be assessed for injury from Saracens’ game, with England meeting at Pennyhill Park for the first time under Borthwick on Monday evening before training on Tuesday.

Borthwick added: “I’ve been asked about how little time we have to prepare and about injuries, and they’re good questions. All I’ll say as a coach is there are players who will be missing, that’s clear. We have a fantastic squad to coach – with an incredible captain – who want to start putting in performances which we can be proud of.”

Who is in England’s Six Nations sqaud?

Forwards

Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 6 caps)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 95 caps)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks,1 cap)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 9 caps)
Tom Dunn (Bath, 3 caps)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 13 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 43 caps)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 19 caps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 8 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 62 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 14 caps)
Dave Ribbans (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 56 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 74 caps)
Jack Walker (Harlequins, uncapped)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 6 caps) 

Backs

Owen Farrell (Saracens, 101 caps)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped)
Dan Kelly (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath, 6 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 14 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 13 caps)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 52 caps)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 17 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 50 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 121 caps) 

Who has missed out?

The headline omissions from Borthwick squad are Jack Nowell, Jonny May and Billy Vunipola – all of whom played a huge part of England sides during the tenure of Eddie Jones.

Their respective non-selection offers the clearest indication yet of the new regime’s departure from the old, as Borthwick looks to blood new talent who have shown top-level form for their clubs.

Other notable names to be left out include Alex Coles, Hugh Tizzard, Val Rapava Ruskin, Joe Cokanasiga and George Furbank. 

Who is injured?

As ever, Borthwick has been forced to exclude certain names due to injuries.

The loss of star flanker Tom Curry and Exeter hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie will sting especially, with both likely to have been starters against Scotland should they have been fit. 

Injury continues to keep dynamic winger Henry Arundell out of contention, while Elliott Daly (hamstring) Jack Singleton, Guy Porter and Raffi Quirke have all also been ruled out.

Courtney Lawes’ withdrawal is the latest blow for Borthwick. And a knee injury to George McGuigan, plus Jamie George’s concussion, has created a major issue at hooker.