Jamie George has left the England squad after being stripped of captaincy
Yesterday at 06:02 AM
England's hopes for a strong Six Nations start have taken a hit, with hooker Jamie George forced to pull out of the squad’s pre-tournament training camp due to a hamstring injury.
Find your local Greene King and settle in for the 2025 Six Nations!
The 34-year-old, who was replaced as captain by Saracens' Maro Itoje, had to leave the field late in Saracens' Champions Cup clash against Toulon on Sunday.
Despite replacing Theo Dan in the second half, George’s day ended early as the injury flared up.
Now, with George out of contention, it's all to play for between his club-mate Dan and Sale’s Luke Cowan-Dickie for the starting jersey in Dublin.
But it's not just George causing concern – scrum-half Alex Mitchell is also struggling with a knee problem.
The 27-year-old missed the autumn Tests due to a neck injury and limped off late in Northampton’s victory over Munster. Despite his doubts, Mitchell will travel to Girona in a bid to prove his fitness and retain his place for the opening match.
England's camp is feeling the pressure as key players fight to get fit in time for the eagerly anticipated showdown with Ireland.
Borthwick reinforcements:
England have drafted in Curtis Langdon (Northampton Saints), Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), and Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks) ahead of their Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, 1 February.
EDITORS PICKS:
- I Was Borthwick's First England Debutant – Now I Want to Switch Nations
- England legend's son declares for rivals ahead of 2025 Six Nations
- England Land in 2027 Rugby World Cup Group of Death After Rankings Shocker
- The first openly gay All Black has got married
- Wales legend Adam Jones offered Six Nations job
40 Greatest England Rugby players in history: Ranked
From Rugby World Cup champions to modern-day icons, we've compiled a definitive list celebrating England's finest players.
Get ready to relive the magic as we count down the top 40 English rugby legends.
#40. Wade Dooley – The 'Blackpool Tower'
Standing tall in England's second row, Dooley's height and physicality made him a linchpin during the late 1980s.
#39. Manu Tuilagi – The Human Bulldozer
Tuilagi's devastating ball-carrying and try-scoring ability have left defenders trembling for over a decade.
#38. Dylan Hartley – Captain Combative
England's fiery hooker and leader under Eddie Jones, Hartley's tenacity helped steer England to glory.
#37. Maggie Alphonsi – 'The Machine'
A trailblazer in women's rugby, Alphonsi's bone-crunching tackles and relentless energy inspired a generation.
#36. Trevor Woodman – Scrum Maestro
Part of the 2003 World Cup-winning pack, Woodman's technical prowess anchored England's scrum.
#35. Kyran Bracken – The Ice-Cold Scrum-Half
Bracken's sharp decision-making and calmness under pressure made him a standout in the late '90s.
#34. Billy Vunipola – The Powerhouse
England's go-to man for hard metres, Billy's ball-carrying has been a cornerstone of England's pack.
#33. Joe Marler – The Scrummaging Joker
With elite scrummaging skills and a larger-than-life personality, Marler has become a modern cult hero.
#32. Steve Thompson – The Relentless Hooker
Thompson's dynamic play was crucial in England's 2003 World Cup success, and he remains a legend of the game.
#31. Will Carling – The Nation's Leader
England's youngest-ever captain, Carling led his team to three Grand Slam titles in the '90s.
CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO
The post Jamie George has left the England squad after being stripped of captaincy appeared first on Ruck.
