England receive double injury blow ahead of Six Nations opener

England will be without centre Ollie Lawrence for the start of their 2024 Six Nations campaign away to Italy.

The Bath player picked up an unspecified injury during his club side’s Investec Champions Cup defeat to Toulouse on Sunday.

He subsequently withdrew from a training camp in Girona, where Steve Borthwick’s side are preparing for their opening game in Rome on February 3.

Lawrence has won 21 caps for his country, scoring two tries, one of which came against Wales in the Six Nations last year.

He now looks set to miss next month’s match in Rome, as does Luke Cowan-Dickie, who has also pulled out of the trip to Spain.

The hooker, who missed the World Cup due to a shoulder problem, picked up an injury as his Sale side were beaten by La Rochelle in the Champions Cup at the weekend.

And to make matters worse, there are also fitness doubts surrounding Harlequins back Oscar Beard.

He will still travel to Girona, but won’t be part of the training squad as he progresses through return-to-play protocols after concussion.

Head coach Steve Borthwick has moved quickly to name replacements for the trio, calling up Newcastle’s Jamie Blamire, as well as the uncapped Bath duo Max Ojomoh and Will Muir as replacements.

They will now take part in the camp in Spain, which concludes next Thursday, from where England will fly directly to Italy for their opening Six Nations fixture.

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