Vice-captain Jamie George has been ruled out of England’s Six Nations opener against defending champions Ireland, the RFU announced on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old hooker, who was last week replaced by Maro Itoje as captain, suffered a hamstring injury in Saracens’ Investec Champions Cup defeat by Castres on Sunday.

Northampton scrumhalf Alex Mitchell sustained a knee problem against Munster but could yet feature against Ireland on 1 February after being taken to the squad’s pre-championship training camp in Spain to continue his rehabilitation.

Northampton lock Alex Coles, Leicester scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet and Harlequins No 8 Alex Dombrandt have also been ruled out of England’s Six Nations opener in Dublin.

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Curtis Langdon (Northampton), Arthur Clark (Gloucester), Ben Spencer (Bath), Henry Pollock (Northampton), and Raffi Quirke (Sale) have been called into the squad by England coach Steve Borthwick.

“We’ve had to make a few amendments these last 24 hours as every coach needs to,” said Borthwick, speaking later Tuesday at the Six Nations launch in Rome.

“There’s always adaptations you need to make. And I think the nature of international rugby is good adaptation.

“And I think some players [now] have an opportunity they didn’t think was coming their way. And I think when a player gets that, some of them grab it with both hands and don’t let go.”

© Agence France-Presse

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