Steve Borthwick has named a 26-player England squad for a three-day training camp in Brighton.
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England have met up today (Tuesday) and will train at Brighton College, following their 20-10 win over Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
Max Malins (ankle) is unavailable to train this week due to injury. Malins will join up with the squad this week for rehab work.
Gloucester winger Jonny May has been called up to the squad, while Manu Tuilagi will also train with the squad this week.
England will next take on France at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 11 March (4.45pm KO).
Borthwick said: “This week we move our training camp to Brighton, as we meet up again after last weekend’s win in Cardiff.
“The performance against Wales was pleasing in a number of important respects. It was good to see the hard work the squad have put in on the training field reflected in a deserved and hard-won victory.
“Reduced fallow week squad numbers, injuries and our wish for some players to have valuable game time minutes with their clubs, means that the squad gathered in Brighton has a slightly different feel to it. We are very pleased to welcome back Jonny May.
“The players and coaches alike are looking forward to another three days of focused training, before the full squad meets back up back at Pennyhill Park on Sunday, in anticipation of our continued preparations for the remainder of what is proving to be a magnificent Six Nations tournament”.
A number of England U20s players will also take part in training session this week.
One player let go from the squad is Marcus Smith.
The fly half made a cameo appearance in England’s win over Wales, playing less than a minute in Cardiff.
Borthwick has opted to play Owen Farrell in the number 10 jersey, with Smith on the bench for the two latest Six Nations wins against Italy and Wales. Smith and Farrell both started in the Calcutta Cup defeat to Scotland, in the opening round of the competition.
Borthwick’s inclusion of Ford adds another question as to who his starting fly half will be. Ford and Farrell have had previous success in a 10 and 12 partnership, with the Saracen slotting in at inside centre.
Steve Borthwick is certainly aware of Ford’s qualities, as the former Leicester player took the Tigers win the 2021/22 Premiership title, with Borthwick as Head Coach. This duo took England to the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, and won them the 2020 Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup.
Harlequins take on Exeter Chiefs this Saturday, in a double header at the home of English rugby. The men’s and women’s of Quins and Chiefs take centre stage at Twickenham, in an annual highlight for the Harlequins’ calendar.
England squad update:
FORWARDS
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 8 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 98 caps)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 3 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 12 caps)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 15 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 46 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 75 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 65 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 97 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 17 caps)
David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 59 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 77 caps)
Jack Walker (Harlequins, 2 caps)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 8 caps)
