England Six Nations squad LIVE: Eddie Jones names team for 2022 tournament
England have named an expanded 36-man group for the tournament
Owen Farrell has been retained as England captain for the Six Nations but there are several big-name casualties in the training squad named for the opener against Scotland on 5 February.
George Ford continues to miss out despite his outstanding form at the heart of Leicester’s revival with Farrell, Marcus Smith and uncapped Bath prospect Orlando Bailey included as fly-halves.
There is no place for versatile back Elliot Daly despite his recovery from the stress fracture that forced him to sit out a successful autumn, and his Saracens colleagues Mako and Billy Vunipola also remain in international exile.
A fifth ever-present from the 2019 World Cup squad, and up until now a key member of Eddie Jones’ back row, has been frozen out in flanker Sam Underhill.
The uncapped Bailey, Alfie Barbeary, Ollie Chessum, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Hassell-Collins and Luke Northmore continue Jones’ overhaul of his England squad as he builds for France 2023.
Follow live updates, reaction and analysis below as Jones reveals his 36-man squad:
Over to Wales...
It’s a breathless morning of squad announcements so we are going to switch focus to Wales now, with Wayne Pivac set to name his squad for the Six Nations imminently.
We’ll have plenty more reaction to the England squad throughout the day, but for now, to Cardiff...
On Manu Tuilagi.
Eddie Jones says that Manu Tuilagi has suffered a “set-back”, and is “50/5” to be available.
More on the remaining uncapped players
“Ollie Chessum is a young back-rower-cum-lock. We see him in a similar mould to Courtney Lawes. He’s got plenty of energy and vigour.”
“They all deserve the opportunity. Hassell-Collins is a big strong winger who breaks tackles. Tommy Freeman we believe can play fullback, wing or possibly thirteen and has a natural feel for the game. Orlando Bailey has done very well in a team that has been struggling. He can take the ball to the line and is a strong defender. We are particularly looking for those multi-skilled back players - he can play 10, 12 or 15.
“Luke Northmore runs strong lines, carries well through contact and has got good footwork.”
Eddie Jones on some of the new faces in his squad
“We’ve only got one thing in mind. The young players are in the squad because we feel they can make a contribution to the team and be successful at test level.”
On Alfie Barbeary: “He’s been picked on the back of what we have seen over the last two season. He’s got an extraordinary ability to break tackles and carry the ball forward through contact. We agree with him that back-row is his best position. We are looking forward to seeing how quickly he can move forward in test rugby.”
Eddie Jones on his captain Owen Farrell
“He has the respect of the team, he is a winner and the right man to lead the team. He drives the competitive spirit of the team.”
Eddie Jones on his England squad
On Sam Underhill and Elliot Daly: “He’s not quite ready. He’s had a fairly truncated period since the autumn but we hope he will be ready for later in the tournament. Elliot is a bit the same - he needs to get match fit but could also feature later in the tournament.”
Eddie Jones on his England squad
“We are pleased to announce a squad of 36 for the first training camp in Brighton. This Six Nations is the fourth last campaign we have before the 2023 World Cup so it is an important opportunity for us to keep building the team. We are looking forward to integrating some new players into the squad.”
Owen Farrell will be England captain
One thing that is made very clear in the announcement is that Owen Farrell retains the England captaincy. Courtney Lawes performed the duties well in his absence in the autumn but Eddie Jones maintains that Farrell is the right man to lead England.
And the England head coach has just arrived at his post-announcement press conference, so we will bring you some of what he says now...
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